Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the oral answer to the hon. Member for Hamble Valley of 20 October 2026, Official Report, column 962, if she will clarify whose Ministerial portfolio (a) optometry and (b) ophthal
Answer
Optometry and ophthalmology sit within my portfolio as part of my wider responsibility for eyecare. Further information on my portfolio is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/people/james-frith
Verdict: GREEN (90/100)
The reply directly answered both parts of the question. It stated that optometry and ophthalmology both fall within the named Minister's portfolio, as part of their wider eyecare responsibilities, and gave a link to that Minister's government profile. Nothing in the reply was vague or hedged, so the asker would likely have what they need without a follow-up.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Which Minister's portfolio optometry falls under within the Department of Health and Social Care. | Addressed | Direct | The reply states that optometry sits within the speaker's portfolio as part of their wider eyecare responsibility, which directly identifies the responsible Minister, and the supplementary link points to that Minister's government profile. |
| Which Minister's portfolio ophthalmology falls under within the Department of Health and Social Care. | Addressed | Direct | The same statement says ophthalmology also sits within the speaker's portfolio alongside optometry, so the responsible Minister is identified for this item as well. |