§ 68. Mr. Longdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what efforts are being made to negotiate agreed reciprocal arrangements for the free provision of medical and hospital care for tourists with those countries with which such agreements have not yet been made.
§ Mr. AlisonI would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Members for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Robert308W Hughes) and Bothwell (Mr. James Hamilton) on 10th November last. It is difficult to extend this network of reciprocal agreements as widely as the Government would wish because so many European governments base their medical services on the principle of insurance and are unwilling to provide them to non-contributors.—[Vol. 806, c. 78–9]