To ask the Secretary of State for Health what would be the cost of designating recipients of tax credits and their families as people entitled to passported benefits under the National Health Service (Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges) Regulations 1988. [69748]

The additional costs (compared with the current passporting of Family Credit and Disability Working Allowance) are (for England) estimated to be £48 million in 1999–2000, £113 million in 2000–01 and £125 million in 2001–02 in total in respect of National Health Service prescriptions, NHS dental treatment, NHS sight tests and optical vouchers. Costs in respect of wigs and fabric supports and patients' travel hospital expenses would also be incurred by NHS trusts.