HC Deb 15 January 1996 vol 269 cc346-7W
Mr. Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidelines for hospitals for reimbursement of travel costs for those in receipt of income support; if the guidelines recognise the UB40 as a proof of receipt of income support; what proof of being in receipt of income support is required for those not paid by an order book; and what was the last occasion on which the guidelines were amended. [9530]

Mr. Horam

The guidelines for reimbursement of the cost of travel to hospital do not recognise form UB40 as proof of receipt of income support because not everybody who is issued with that form is in receipt of that benefit. For those who are not paid income support by an order book, one of forms B3, C3, FF260 or FF260A covering the day they attend the hospital, can be presented as proof of eligibility.

The guidelines were last amended in October 1994 with a reminder being sent out in May 1995. The list of documents which can be produced as proof of eligibility was reviewed in 1995 and set out in leaflet H11 which was effective from April 1995.

Copies of the guidelines and of leaflet H11 have been placed in the Library.