asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now take steps to extend the special bilateral agreements with EEC countries to pro- vide free medical treatment for British visitors.

Emergency medical treatment for British nationals on holiday or other temporary visits to Community countries is available under the EEC Social Security Regulations to employed persons, retirement pensioners, widow beneficiaries and the dependants of all these categories on the same terms as for the nationals of the country concerned. Except in the case of Denmark, bilateral agreements do not cover health care for self-employed and non-employed persons. We are seeking to extend coverage to these persons, but this may take some time to achieve.