HC Deb 22 July 1975 vol 896 cc284-5
16. Mr. Alan Lee Williams

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on implementation of arrangements for the population of Malta to have access to naval medical facilities.

Mr. Judd

Arrangements have long existed for Maltese locally-entered personnel, their dependants and Maltese locally-entered civilians injured at work to receive treatment in the Royal Naval Hospital, Malta. In addition the Maltese Government have recently accepted our offer of beds in the Royal Naval Hospital's maternity unit for other patients at rates based on the extra costs arising from their attendance.

Mr. Williams

I congratulate my hon. Friend on achieving this agreement because I know that he has worked hard and long to reach this arrangement with the Maltese. Does he agree that the principle is important because it means the sensible use of existing facilities? Will he assure the House that if this principle can be applied elsewhere he will not hesitate to apply it?

Mr. Judd

I certainly assure my hon. Friend that wherever we can co-operate in ways of this kind we are anxious to do so.

Mr. Buck

I should like to add my congratulations to the hon. Gentleman on what he has achieved. Will he move a little further down the Mediterranean and tell us whether he has had any success in Gibraltar along similar lines with the hospital there?

Mr. Judd

The hon. and learned Gentleman knows that that is a completely different question. If he cares to put it down, I shall be more than willing to answer it on a subsequent occasion.