FREE EYE TESTS

That this House congratulates the Royal National Institute for the Blind on the publication of Losing Sight of Blindness; recognises that this shows that older people are putting their sight at risk due to not having their eyes tested regularly and that many older people are being deterred from attending an eye test due to the fee; understands that this happens because of fear about the cost of tests and confusion over exemption categories; welcomes the wide range of medical, professional and older people's organisations who are supporting the RNIB campaign; recognises that Her Majesty's Government has said that it would cost ú32 million to restore free eye tests for people aged 60 years and over; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to introduce free comprehensive eye tests for all people aged 60 years and over and other high risk groups as a matter of priority.