The Liberal Democrat Party, in its pre-manifesto document, has repeated its long-standing commitment to restoring the universally Free Sight Test. The aim is to “reduce ill health by spotting problems earlier by scrapping charges for eye tests and dental checks. The funding of the move will be by introducing an increase of 10p on to a pack of cigarettes”. The manifesto goes on to say that “these preventative measures need to come into force”. The document also contains a commitment to recruit an extra 5,000 doctors and 20,000 nurses and further investment in hospitals.      # OCTOBER 2000