§ Mr. MillerTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what conditions must be met by families who face serious financial difficulties as a result of visiting their sick child in hospital to qualify for any financial assistance towards these costs from the social fund.
§ Mr. Roger EvansCommunity care grants from the Social Fund can assist people in receipt of income support to meet the cost of visiting a hospital patient. Social fund officers have to take account of all the circumstances of each application to the fund, but the Secretary of State's guidance provides that help with costs to visit a child in hospital should normally be given high priority. Those payments are designed to ensure that help is focused on those with the lowest income who are least able to meet the cost.