§ 2.37 p.m.
§ LORD BROUGHSHANEMy Lords, I beg to ask His Majesty's Government the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government in what circumstances free medical services and medical and dental appliances, such as dentures and spectacles, are supplied to foreigners visiting this country, who have paid no contributions to the British National Health Service; and what is the estimated cost of providing these special privileges for foreign nationals.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COLONIAL AFFAIRS (THE EARL OF LISTOWEL)My Lords, the Act is so framed as to cover everyone in this country, including foreigners. While here they can, like anyone else, make use of all the facilities. There are, therefore, no special arrangements relating to foreigners, and no separate estimates of cost.
§ LORD BROUGHSHANEMy Lords, is the noble Earl aware that a leaflet has recently been handed to all visitors arriving at British ports stating that the National Health Service will provide them, free of charge, with any medical, dental and nursing care during their sojourn in Britain? What is the explanation of emphasising this fact to all foreigners arriving at our shores, when they have not contributed in any way towards the expenses of providing these services and appliances?
§ THE EARL OF LISTOWELMy Lords, I am not aware of that leaflet but I will draw the attention of my right honourable friend to its existence. At the same time, perhaps the noble Lord will realise that, as on the average foreign visitors stay here only one month, it is not likely that the benefits they derive from the National Health Service are numerous.
§ LORD BROUGHSHANEIs it not possible to obtain a pair of spectacles or some dental appliance even within one month? Some of us have been obtaining these things in a less period of time than that.
LORD HAWKEIs the noble Earl aware of an allegation that Lascar crews are arriving in this country without teeth in their heads and are going back with "National" teeth and selling them in the bazaars at the other end?
LORD SALTOUNMy Lords, if that is so, may I inquire how these people get their teeth and spectacles so much sooner than do people who belong to this country?