§ 94. Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Health whether he will now state the countries oversea, Commonwealth Territories included, with which total or part reciprocal arrangements are in force for health benefits, including dental attention, to be made available gratuitously to participants in, and subscribers to the British National Health Service, including retirement pensioners.
§ 2. Mr. Vosper1.Multilateral Agreements
A reciprocal agreement is in force between the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg for giving medical treatment to indigent persons. A Convention extending this agreement to all members of the Council of Europe is in force between those countries which have ratified it (the United Kingdom, the Irish Republic, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany and Sweden).
Bilateral Agreements
Under a reciprocal agreement with the Channel Islands visitors from the United Kingdom are provided with free in-patient and out-patient hospital treatment in Jersey and Guernsey and general practitioner services (excluding dental or ophthalmic treatment other than emergency ophthalmic treatment) in Guernsey.
Agreements are in force whereby British subjects employed in France, Italy, the Netherlands and Luxembourg who participate in the social insurance 212W schemes of those countries can have their United Kingdom insurance taken into account in reckoning their entitlement, and that of their dependants, to medical benefit. An agreement with Sweden, which is expected to be ratified shortly, entitles all British nationals in Sweden, including tourists, to use the Swedish health services. A similar agreement with Norway awaits signature.
Under Australian legislation free medical treatment is available to various classes of pensioners and their dependants. A reciprocal agreement enables citizens coming from the United Kingdom to Australia to qualify for such pensions, and hence for free medical treatment, by virtue of their United Kingdom insurance.
In general, the countries with whom agreements have been made meet the major part of the cost of treatment. I will make enquiry as to how far dental treatment is provided in each country.