The Secretary of State may give directions as to payments to be made under general ophthalmic services contracts.
A general ophthalmic services contract must require payments to be made under the contract in accordance with directions under this section.
A direction under subsection (1) may in particular—
provide for payments to be made by reference to compliance with standards or the achievement of levels of performance,
provide for payments to be made by reference to—
any scheme or scale specified in the direction, or
a determination made by any person in accordance with factors specified in the direction,
provide for the making of payments in respect of individual practitioners,
provide that the whole or any part of a payment is subject to conditions (and may provide that payments are payable by the Board only if it is satisfied as to certain conditions),
make provision having effect from a date before the date of the direction, provided that, having regard to the direction as a whole, the provision is not detrimental to the persons to whose remuneration it relates.
Before giving a direction under subsection (1), the Secretary of State—
must consult any body appearing to him to be representative of persons to whose remuneration the direction would relate, and
may consult such other persons as he considers appropriate.
"Payments" includes fees, allowances, reimbursements, loans and repayments.