§ 28. Mr. Jayasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much will be saved by the implementation of National Health Service charges to overseas students; and how much the machinery to enforce these charges will cost.
§ Mr. FowlerI expect the National Health Service to receive around £6 million per annum in charges under the proposed regulations and in additional private patient income. The cost of machinery to enforce the charges is expected to be minimal.
§ 33. Mr. Durantasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the Government will consider seeking to extend the reciprocal agreements concerning emergency treatment abroad in European Economic Community countries to cover full-time students in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergMedical treatment for visitors from one Community country to another is provided under the Community's social security regulations for migrant workers. To be eligible for medical cover currently a person must be an EC national and satisfy certain social security conditions. Consequently, only a limited number of students will be covered—for example those who have been insured as employed persons within a specified period or who are dependants of an eligible person. 391W However, the Council of Ministers decided that non-employed persons covered by their national scheme should be afforded medical treatment immediately needed when visiting another Community country on the same terms as those covered by the regulations, and it is now hoped to implement this on 1 July. Many students would naturally benefit from such a provision.