§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a detailed statement of Her Majesty's Government's policy on the future of the present British social service system following entry into the Common Market and the ensuring harmonisation of social security schemes; and to what extent payments will have to be made by patients for family doctor and hospital treatment.
§ Mr. Ennals:There is nothing in the Treaty of Rome or in the Regulations of the European Economic Community which would require us to make charges for treatment under our National Health Service or to harmonise our social security with the social security of other member States. In the field of social security, as far as can be foreseen, the only immediate effect of joining the Community would be that the Regulations of the Community on social security for migrant workers would take the place of the bilateral agreements we have concluded with the Six.