§ Mr. John H. Osbornasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is now satisfied that there are adequate arrangements for United Kingdom citizens to use health service facilities in third countries, comparable with those in the United Kingdom and at the basic cost.
§ Mr. MoyleThere is no general power under the National Health Service Acts to pay for treatment received by United Kingdom citizens abroad Access to other national systems of health care can normally be achieved only on a non-reimbursement basis through bilateral reciprocal agreements Our ability to make agreements of this kind depends on the existence of adequate standards and methods of health care provision, and on the willingness of other countries to enter into such agreements.
§ Mr. John H. Osbornasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those countries with which there are
NUMBERS OF FAMILIES RECEIVING FAMILY INCOME SUPI'LEMENT AND AVERAGE PAYMENTS Year Two-parent families Average payment Motherless families Average payment Fatherless families Average payment (at December) (Thousands) (£) (Thousands) (£) (Thousands) (£) 1971 … … 47 1.50 1 1.47 23 2.21 1972 … … 48 1.78 1 1.74 33 2.51 1973 … … 50 2.31 1 2.36 43 2.83 1974 … … 32 3.25 1 3.41 37 3.41 1975 … … 28 3.83 1 4.20 31 4.20 1976 … … 42 4.66 1 4.19 34 5.05 The scheme started in August 1971. Figures relate to Great Britain, and the numbers of families are rounded to the nearest 1,000.
§ Mr. Dunnettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many applications for family income supplement have been made and how many have been approved for families living in (a) the social security region which includes Nottingham and (b) the country as a whole.
§ Mr. OrmeInformation on the number of applications for family income supplement (FIS) is available only for Great34W adequate reciprocal social service arrangements for tourists, and for which he does not recommend holidaymakers to take separate insurance cover.
§ Mr. MoyleDetails of reciprocal agreements covering medical treatment are given in my Department's leaflets SA 28 and SA 30, copies of which I am sending to the hon. Member. Since these leaflets were published, an agreement with the German Democratic Republic has been signed and has come into operation Illness in countries with which we have reciprocal agreements can involve expense, as national legislations may require the patient to bear part of the costs of treatment Even where treatment is provided free there may be additional non-medical expenses Some insurance cover may, therefore, be advisable.