12. To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Spanish counterpart on the decision of the Valencia Autonomous Region on access to local health care facilities for British expatriates below pensionable age. (224424)

The new scheme is in line with European law and is intended to bring Valencia into line with the rest of Spain. Officials at the British Embassy in Madrid have been active in negotiating an extension until the end of the year so that British Citizens who might be affected have time to make necessary provisions. The Embassy will remain in close contact with the Valencia Authorities on this issue.