ABDO backs plans for reduced retention fee

A decision by the General Optical Council (GOC) to develop proposals such as a reduced registration fee for low income or part-time registrants has been praised by the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO).

Having been highly critical of the GOC's failure to introduce staged retention fee payments in the past (News 04.12.09), ABDO welcomed the GOC's plans for alternative measures. The GOC is developing the proposals after it resolved not to implement a staged payment facility at its Council meeting on September 23.

In response ABDO general secretary, Sir Tony Garrett, said: 'I am delighted that the GOC has come forward with a number of positive and helpful proposals. From the outset of putting forward the request, ABDO has recognised that staged payments were always going to be difficult for the GOC to implement, so the proposed reduced retention fee for low earners is an imaginative and very welcome response to a difficult issue.'