§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the cost of the National Health Service travel cost scheme in each of the last three years; and what steps he will take to increase public knowledge and take-up.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleySummarised accounts of health authorities in England show the following expenditure, for the last three years, in respect of fares paid to patients travelling to and from hospital for NHS treatment:
Year £ million 1986–87 3.037 1987–88 3.263 1988–89 3.265 These figures do not indicate NHS administration costs. We are currently considering measures to increase public awareness of the hospital travel costs scheme.