To ask the Minister of Health, pursuant to AQW 12140/22-27, in relation to the total spend of £40 million, to detail the amount that was allocated to reimbursements for individuals using taxis to travel to appointments under the Hospital Travel Costs Scheme.

All six Health and Social Care Trusts have advised that the expenditure reported in AQW 12140/22-27 did not include expenditure under the Hospital Travel Costs Scheme.

Reimbursement under the Hospital Travel Costs Scheme is based on public transport fares. If public transport is unavailable or impractical, an approved private car or taxi journey would be reimbursed at a capped public transport fare rate.