asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has decided to allow beds in NHS hospitals to be used by foreign patients under health co-operation schemes such as that recently proposed by the Kuwaiti Government; and what level of charges he would consider appropriate.

As I told the right hon. Gentleman in my reply on 28th March—[Vol. 929, c. 57]—I have invited Dr. Awadhi to visit the United Kingdom later this year to discuss areas of co-operation. Any agreement which may emerge from these discussions would be subject to the provisions of the Health Services Act 1976.