§ Mr. Wheelerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will arrange to review on a sample basis, the payments made to the National Health Service by foreign nationals; and if he is satisfied that visits to emergency departments are genuine and not an abuse of the taxpayers' money;
(2) what is the general policy for the treatment of foreign nationals in National Health Service hospitals; if there is any obligation for the payment of National Health Service costs; and if he is satisfied that there are sufficient safeguards to prevent abuse.
§ Dr. VaughanI refer my hon. Friend to the announcement by my right hon. Friend in his speech during the debate on the Budget resolutions and economic situation on 12 March—[Vol. 1000, c. 1013–16]—of our intention to charge overseas visitors for NHS treatment subject to certain exemptions. Out-patient treatment in accident and emergency departments will remain free but our policy is that only genuine emergencies should be treated. I will watch to see whether this is abused. A sample survey of the kind proposed by my hon. Friend is not, therefore, required at present. If my hon. Friend has any particular problem in mind, I shall be glad to look into it.