Written question asked by Wendy Morton (Conservative) on Tuesday, 2 June 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 8 June 2026 (named day). It was answered by Stephen Kinnock (Labour) on Monday, 8 June 2026 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Ophthalmic Services: Finance

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, further to his answer on 1 June (HC Deb col 895) on the Health Bill, what safeguards he will put in place to ensure that Clauses 26-29 of Health Bill do not inadvertently (a) put General Ophthalmic Services budgets at risk and (b) lead to a postcode lottery of NHS eye tests.

Answer: The Health Bill will transfer statutory responsibility for commissioning Primary Ophthalmic Services to integrated care boards (ICBs). Commissioning responsibility for these services has already been delegated by NHS England to ICBs since 2023, and funding is allocated to ICBs each year for this purpose. National Health Service sight testing services will continue to operate within a national regulatory and contractual framework, with contract terms set in regulations and fees set nationally through Directions. The bill will not affect patient eligibility for NHS sights tests.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 5945
Session: 2026-27
Related items: Health Bill
Monday, 1 June 2026
Proceeding contributions
House of Commons
Subjects: Finance Ophthalmic services
Legislation: Health Bill 2026-27
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk