§ 19. Mr. Maurice Macmillanasked the Minister of Health which of the Common Market countries provide reciprocal health and hospital services for citizens of the United Kingdom similar to those obtainable by their nationals in the United Kingdom; what steps he is taking to extend such reciprocal arrangements; and what would be the effect of United Kingdom accession to the Common Market on these arrangements.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonNone, Sir, but some United Kingdom nationals who live in Common Market countries qualify for the health benefits available to nationals of the country concerned; it has not been possible to make more comprehensive arrangements with these countries; membership of the Community would extend the health benefits to some but not all visitors from this country.
§ Mr. MacmillanIs the Minister taking any active steps to ensure that visitors to the Continent are protected in the same way or similarly to the way in which Continental visitors to this country are protected?
§ Mr. RobinsonI do not know if that supplementary question was limited to Common Market countries, but in those countries the health benefits are less comprehensive than those available here and they are dependent upon insurance qualifications. We have much more comprehensive arrangements for reciprocity with other European countries such as Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Yugoslavia.