Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential merits of (a) removing or (b) reducing VAT on prescription lenses.
No specific discussions have taken place.
VAT relief is already provided on the dispensing, measuring and fitting of prescription glasses and on fees in relation to the fitting of safety spectacles. In addition, medical tests including sight tests are exempt from VAT.