HC Deb 11 March 1947 vol 434 c172W
Sir I. Fraser

asked the Minister of Pensions what travelling facilities he grants to relatives who wish to visit disabled ex-Servicemen who are detained in his Department's hospitals for any length of time.

Mr. Wilfred Paling

When a patient is unable to avail himself of the privilege leave granted at Easter, Whitsun, August Bank Holiday and Christmas, the part-free railway warrant for which he is eligible may be transferred to a relative. If the warrant is not used at one privilege holiday an entirely free warrant is given at the next privilege holiday. When a patient is placed on the dangerously ill list, free travelling warrants are given to two persons, one of whom must be a relative. The Ministry provides concession vouchers which, on presentation at a railway booking office, secure the benefit of reduced fare facilities granted by the railway companies to wives and near relatives for the purpose of visiting pensioners in hospital through war disablement.