Optics gives tentative welcome to Budget

Optics has given a tentative welcome to the coalition government's first Budget which has proved less draconian than many commentators had feared.

'We have been told to expect the worst - so we should not be unpleasantly surprised,' suggested AEL in its Budget Summary booklet which outlines all of the fine detail included in the Budget bundles.

Patrick Myers, chief executive officer of optical consultancy Myers La Roche, said overall it was a good Budget although opticians were going to have to think about their pricing structures and retail system changes when the VAT rate increases.

He warned optical professionals not to panic about capital gains tax but to sit down and talk it through with their accountant and not succumb to media scaremongering.