Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration has been given to the use of a national identity card system for determining eligibility for treatment by the national health service. [184112]

Jane Ellison, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health: A national identity card system for determining eligibility for treatment by the national health service was taken into consideration as part of the work on improving recovery of charges from visitors and migrants accessing health care. Having taken into consideration a number of factors, including cost, it was decided not to pursue this approach.

| Hansard