§ 15. Sir Wavell Wakefieldasked the Minister of Health if he will state the cost to the taxpayers of the United Kingdom of the free medical and pharmaceutical 1363 services provided for citizens of Eire temporarily residing in the United Kingdom.
§ Sir W. WakefieldIs the Minister taking steps to ensure that citizens of Southern Ireland, and foreigners temporarily resident in this country, pay for the medical services they get?
§ Mr. BevanThe only thing I can do is to apply the law as it stands. I would remind the House in connection with this Question, and similar questions, that if we are to draw distinctions between people resident in Great Britain, a great deal of form-filling by everybody would be necessary.
§ Sir W. WakefieldDoes the Minister mean, then, that the people of Britain are paying for the free services to foreigners resident in this country?
§ Mr. BevanWhat I am satisfied about is that the administrative machinery necessary to distinguish between people who should or should not have this service—that is to say, those who are resident long enough although no such test is applied—would be far more than the cost of giving the service.
§ Mr. Skeffington-LodgeWill the Minister bear in mind that anything we can do to promote friendship between this country and Eire is to be commended?
§ Mr. Thomas ReidAre reciprocal services given in Eire, or are they likely to be given to our people there?
§ Mr. BevanThe citizens of Eire are in exactly the same situation as visitors from any other country in the world, and I cannot understand this intense enthusiasm to discriminate against citizens of Southern Ireland.