§ Mr. Channonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will, pursuant to his reply to the right hon. Member for Down. South (Mr. Powell) of 11th November, define the limited circumstances in which nationals of other EEC countries can come to the United Kingdom specifically for National Health Service treatment; in how many cases during the most recent convenient 12-month period this has been done; and in how many cases during the most recent convenient I2-month period citizens of the United Kingdom have been referred for free medical treatment to other EEC countries.
§ Mr. MoyleThe circumstances are set out in EEC Regulation 1408/71 which lays down the following main conditions. The individual must (a) be a national of a member State or a Stateless person or a refugee or a member of the family of such a person, and permanently residing in a Community country; and (b) be an employed person, a pensioner who was previously an employed person, or a member of the family of such a person; and (c) be authorised by a designated health authority which normally provides him with health benefits to return to the member State where he resides or to transfer his residence to another member State; or to go to another member State for treatment appropriate to his condition.
In 1976, 62 persons were authorised to come to the United Kingdom for treatment and five were referred by the United Kingdom to other member States. The final 1977 figures are not yet to hand.