HC Deb 16 February 1976 vol 905 c555W
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has been made in negotiating further reciprocal arrangement for health care for Britons in European countries.

Dr. Owen

Employed persons visiting other EEC countries are covered for urgent treatment by the EEC Social Security Regulations. Discussions are going on within the Community with a view to extending these arrangements to self-employed and non-employed persons. These two groups are already covered in Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany and Gibraltar by our bilateral agreements.

Outside the EEC, my right hon. Friend expects to sign an agreement with Czechoslovakia in April providing urgent treatment for all British citizens visiting that country. Discussions on a possible agreement on these lines are also proceeding with Hungary. Bilateral agreements providing urgent treatment for all British visitors already exist with Austria, Bulgaria, the Channel Islands, Malta, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden, the USSR and Yugoslavia.