HC Deb 16 March 1971 vol 813 cc1172-3
13. Mr. Normanton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will take steps to end the situation which permits visitors to the United Kingdom to avail themselves of the free health service, without regard to reciprocal arrangements existing for British nationals in their countries.

61. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to end the situation which permits visitors to the United Kingdom to avail themselves of a free health service, without regard to reciprocal arrangements for British nationals in their countries, by asking other Governments to bear the cost of providing such services to British nationals in their own countries.

Mr. Alison

Free emergency treatment is given only to visitors who have an accident or fall ill while in this country, and we would not propose to alter this policy. The Government take every opportunity to extend the existing network of reciprocal agreements

Mr. Normanton

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply, but may I at the same time express regret at what the country may well regard as its inadequacy? There is undoubtedly widespread concern on the extent to which the British taxpayer is paying for visitors' treatment. Will my hon. Friend, therefore, at least advise the House whether he has it in mind to plan for the integration of the British National Health Service with that of other countries, and give advice on when that will be implemented?

Mr. Alison

There are some who abuse the Good Samaritan principle, but my information is that the number is so small that policing them would outweigh the savings to the service. We are actively pursuing the development of reciprocal agreements with a number of countries in addition to those with which we already have them.

Mr. Allaun

I thank the Minister for that answer. Will he consider the recent scandalous case of an English woman whose husband died in America and who subsequently received a bill for £5,000 for medical services? Will the hon. Gentleman do exactly the opposite to what is requested and grant visitors Health Service attention, not stop it, but ask Governments of other countries, even if they do not have a National Health Service, to grant reciprocal services to English people abroad?

Mr. Alison

We have found it extremely difficult to make any arrangements for foreign countries which do not operate a national health service on the same basis as we do to make provision for our nationals overseas which they would not make for their own citizens.

Mr. Simon Mahon

I agree whole-heartedly with the answer given by the hon. Gentleman. Will he, however, bear in mind that there is a country very close to our own—the Republic of Ireland—which has no reciprocal arrangements at all? Is he aware that last year a former Member of this House, now retired, had a sudden illness in Eire and that it cost him many hundreds of £s which he could ill afford? Is it not time that the Republic was brought into some reciprocal arrangements?

Mr. Alison

I understand the point the hon. Gentleman has made, but I cannot, I am afraid, enter into any details about plans we have for developing reciprocal agreements with other countries at present.