Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.-(1) These Regulations may be cited as the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2015 and come into force on 1st April 2015.

(2) In these Regulations, "the 1998 Regulations" means the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Scotland) Regulations 1998(2).

Amendment of the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Scotland) Regulations 1998

2.  The 1998 Regulations are amended in accordance with regulations 3 to 7.

3.-(1) Regulation 8 (eligibility - supply of optical appliances) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (3)(q), after "credit" insert "either as a single person or as a member of a couple".

(3) After paragraph (4)(d) insert-

"(e)in sub-paragraph (q), "single person" is to be construed in accordance with section 1(2)(a) of the Welfare Reform Act 2012(3); and

(f)in sub-paragraph (q), "couple" has the meaning given in section 39 of the Welfare Reform Act 2012(4).".

4.-(1) Regulation 19 (redemption value of voucher for replacement or repair) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (1)(b), for "£55.80" substitute "£56.40".

(3) In paragraph (3)(a), for "£14.40" substitute "£14.60".

(4) In paragraph (3)(b), for "£63.00" substitute "£63.60".

5.  In Schedule 1 (voucher letter codes and face values supply and replacement) in column 3 (face value of voucher) for each amount specified in column 1 of the table below (old amount) substitute the amount specified in relation to it in column 2 (new amount).

6.  For Schedule 2 (voucher values – repair), substitute the Schedule 2 set out in the Schedule to these Regulations.

7.-(1) Schedule 3 (prisms, tints, photochromic lenses, small glasses and special frames and complex appliances) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 1(1)(a) for "£12.40" substitute "£12.50".

(3) In paragraph 1(1)(b) for "£15.00" substitute "£15.20".

(4) In paragraph 1(1)(c) for "£4.20" substitute "£4.30".

(5) In paragraph 1(1)(d) for "£4.70" substitute "£4.80".

(6) In paragraph 1(1)(e)-

(a)in sub-head (i) for "£63.00" substitute "£63.60";

(b)in sub-head (ii) for "£55.80" substitute "£56.40";

(c)in sub-head (iii) for "£30.20" substitute "£30.50".

(7) In paragraph 1(1)(g) for "£63.00", "£55.80" and "£30.20" substitute "£63.60", "£56.40" and "£30.50" respectively.

(8) In paragraph 2(a) for "£14.40" substitute "£14.50".

(9) In paragraph 2(b) for "£36.60" substitute "£37.00".

Application of regulations 4 to 7

8.  The amendments made by regulations 4 to 7 apply only in relation to a voucher accepted pursuant to regulation 12 of the 1998 Regulations or used pursuant to regulation 17 of the 1998 Regulations after these Regulations come into force.

Regulation 6

SCHEDULE

Regulation 19(2) and (3)

"SCHEDULE 2VOUCHER VALUES – REPAIR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Scotland) Regulations 1998 ("the 1998 Regulations") which provide for payments to be made by means of a voucher system in respect of costs incurred by certain categories of persons in connection with the supply, replacement and repair of optical appliances.

The 1998 Regulations are amended to adjust the eligibility criteria in regulation 8 of the 1998 Regulations to reflect the bases on which individuals can receive universal credit (regulation 3).

These Regulations amend the voucher values in the 1998 Regulations to-

(a)increase the redemption value of a voucher issued towards the cost of replacing a single contact lens to increase the maximum contribution by way of a voucher to the cost of repairing a frame and the maximum supplement for small glasses and special frames (regulation 4);

(b)increase the value of vouchers issued towards the cost of supply and replacement of optical appliances (regulation 5);

(c)increase the value of vouchers issued towards the cost of repair of optical appliances (regulation 6); and

(d)increase the additional values for vouchers for prisms, tints, photochromic lenses and special categories of appliances (regulation 7).

Regulation 8 provides that these increases to the voucher values apply only in relation to vouchers accepted or used after these Regulations come into force.