§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether gypsy and traveller women have access to public health care on an equal footing with the rest of the population; and what is their response to the recommendations in the report Breaking the Barriers—Romani women and access to public health care, published at a Council of Europe conference in Strasbourg on 11 to 12 September. [HL4876]
174WA
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)Access to health services in the UK is based on the principle established at the start of the NHS, of clinical need rather than ability to pay. This continues to be government policy, and the Department of Health will continue to keep this under review to ensure the Government meet the issues raised in the report and avoid disadvantaging any sector of society.