§ Mr. Forthasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will give the number of non-British people treated by the National Health Service for the last year for which figures are available;
576W(2) if he is satisfied with the effectiveness of the provisions for the charging of those treated under the National Health Service who are not British nationals or taxpayers;
(3) if he will give the total amount recovered by the National Health Service from non-British people treated by the National Health Service in the last year for which figures are available.
§ Mr. HayhoeComprehensive information is not available centrally on the nationality of patients treated in National Health Service hospitals. Legal eligibility for free treatment is based on residence, not nationality or the payment of taxes. Income from overseas visitors in 1985–86 is provisionally estimated at £2.3 million, but information is not collected on the number of patients charged.