§ 40. Captain Ryderasked the Minister of Health whether in view of the proposed charges that are now to be made on dentures and glasses, he will cease free medical treatment to those visitors from foreign countries with which we have still no reciprocal agreement.
§ Mr. MarquandNo.
§ Captain RyderIf charges are to be made is it not reasonable to try to effect economies in respect of foreigners who are visiting this country?
§ Mr. MarquandThese charges will, of course, apply to foreigners as well as to everyone else.
§ Mr. KeelingWill the right hon. Gentleman say what was the point of taking 566 powers in the 1949 Act to charge visitors to this country, if they were not to be used?
§ Mr. MarquandBecause since then the Secretary of State for the Home Department has been able, by various ways and means to restrain foreigners from coming to this country deliberately to receive treatment.
§ Commander NobleCan the Minister give an estimate of the total yearly cost of the charges in respect of foreign visitors?
§ Mr. MarquandI have answered that question more than once already. I cannot give the exact figure from memory, but it is almost negligible.
§ Mrs. Jean MannAs it is intimated that there are already over a million people coming to Britain for the Festival, has my right hon. Friend estimated the possible increase in the health budget?
§ Mr. MarquandThe figure will still be negligible. I hope that, as I have said before, our cousins coming from the Dominions and the Colonies will receive a warm welcome in every direction.
§ Captain RyderWould we not be more likely to obtain reciprocal facilities if we made a charge now?
§ Mr. MarquandIf hon. Members can discover any way of finding out whether a person who requires treatment is a foreigner without imposing vexatious and unnecessary questions on British nationals and imposing extra clerical work on doctors, I shall be pleased to hear of it.