§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate his Department has made of the annual cost of introducing financial support for patients on non-doctored islands travelling to primary health care practitioners for treatment.
§ Mr. Allan Stewart[holding answer 15 June 1992]: The costs of introducing a scheme to cover the cost of travelling for treatment to primary health care practitioners would vary according to its range and coverage, £400,000 and £1,200,000 per annum. As my right hon. and learned Friend Lord Fraser of Carmylie stated in his letter of 6 May to the hon. Member, there is however no immediate prospect of introducing a financial support scheme of this sort.