§ 2.50 p.m.
§ The Earl of CORK and ORRERYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether persons of any category (and, if so, which) injured or wounded in the Graeco-Turkish fighting are eligible for free treatment under the National Health Service.
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, as a result of the troubles in Cyprus, to which the noble Earl refers in his Question, a number of people fled to this country, and some Cypriot visitors who were here at the time were unable to go home. People in these categories are regarded for the purposes of medical treatment as if they were ordinarily resident in this country and, as such, would be eligible to use the full range of National Health Service facilities. These arrangements do not apply, however, to people who come to this country specifically for treatment.
§ The Earl of CORK and ORRERYMy Lords, I am most grateful to the noble Lord for that Answer. Can the noble Lord say whether the possession or non-possession of a British passport by a person in such a situation has any effect on, or makes any difference to, the situation?
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLNo, my Lords. The criterion is that the patient is ordinarily resident in this country at the time that treatment is sought, and not that he holds any particular passport.