§ 24. Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the effect of the deregulation of buses on patients' and visitors' access to health facilities.
§ Mr. John PattenWe have had representations from the Strathclyde regional council about the effects of local transport policy on access to health care for the physically impaired. Other representations have been made to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, but under the terms proposed in the Transport Bill local authorities will be able to continue to subsidise services which they believe are socially desirable and which the competitive market does not provide.