Sir G. Lloydasked the Minister of Health with what countries there are arrangements making medical assistance freely available to British nationals visiting them; and what efforts are being made to extend such arrangements to other countries, notably to Canada.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodFull reciprocity with any other country in this matter is not at present practicable since no other country provides for its own nationals a health service comparable with our own. The Brussels Treaty countries have a reciprocal agreement for giving medical assistance to indigent persons and a Convention extending this arrangement to all members of the Council of Europe has recently been signed. Arrangements are also in force whereby British subjects employed in France and Italy, and their families, participate in the social insurance schemes of those countries; a similar agreement with Luxembourg has been signed, and agreements with Austria, Belgium, the German Federal Republic and the Netherlands are being negotiated. It is not possible to negotiate an agreement with Canada even on this limited basis, since no comparable service at present exists in that country.