MPs and peers have called on ministers to establish a clear, national entitlement allowing disabled people to travel abroad after further instances emerged of individuals being prevented from taking holidays because of local funding rules.
Campaigners and some parliamentarians described the restrictions imposed by certain NHS care boards and local councils as "ridiculous" and "brazenly discriminatory", saying they amount to a de facto ban on travel for people who rely on continuous personal assistance.
Variation across local areas has been highlighted as a central problem. Critics say there are wide differences in how boards and councils interpret rules on funding for 24/7 personal assistants (PAs), with some authorities refusing to allow public funds to be used for support during overseas breaks or work trips.
Leading figures have urged the government to produce national guidance to ensure that people who require round‑the‑clock PA support are not blocked from travelling. They want explicit rules making clear that funding intended for domiciliary care should cover necessary 24/7 support when a person is abroad for a holiday or employment reasons.
Supporters of the move argue the issue exposes a broader postcode lottery in social care funding and decision‑making, with consequences for disabled people's freedom to travel and participate in work and family life. They say only uniform, national safeguards will prevent local variation from restricting rights in practice.
MPs and peers involved in the calls said they expected ministers to respond with clear, enforceable guidance so that people who need continuous assistance can plan breaks and business travel without having to navigate inconsistent local systems. The campaigners involved say they will continue to press for binding rules rather than informal advice to local authorities.
The demands come amid growing attention to how social care funding is administered locally and the practical impact of different interpretations of eligibility and expenditure rules on disabled people's day‑to‑day lives.