HC Deb 21 July 1982 vol 28 c178W
Mr. Gordon Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will authorise an emergency subsidy of road transport to assist relatives to visit patients in mental hospitals in place of the assisted rail journey scheme rendered ineffective by the rail dispute.

Mr. Allan Stewart

Persons on supplementary benefits can obtain assistance from the Department of Health and Social Security towards the cost of visiting relatives in hospital. Such assistance is not restricted to rail travel. I am not aware of any other centrally administered scheme of assistance.