Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the number of British pensioners who permanently live abroad but returned to the UK to access health treatment via the NHS in the latest period for which figures are available; [166606]

(2) if he will undertake a review of (a) who is and (b) who is not entitled to NHS care. [166619]

Anna Soubry, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health: The Department has concluded a comprehensive review of the rules of entitlement to free national health service care of visitors and migrants. Following that review, the Department has since published a consultation entitled “Sustaining services, ensuring fairness: A consultation on migrant access and their financial contribution to NHS provision in England” on proposals to make the charging system fairer including seeking views on who should be entitled to free NHS care.

A copy of the consultation and the summary report “2012 review of overseas visitors charging policy” have already been placed in the Library.

The Department is currently not able to make a reliable estimate of the number of British pensioners who permanently live abroad but return to the United Kingdom to access NHS treatment. To support the development of the proposals within the consultation, the Department has commissioned independent professional research to better understand the extent of the use of the NHS of migrants and visitors, including British pensioners.

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