In 2008-09, the UK received slightly more than £33 million from other member states. Given the nature of the process, payments are frequently made several years in arrears, so that figure does not represent the cost of health care, nor claims made in any one year.
I thank the Minister for that answer, but it is extraordinary: we pay our European Union colleagues more than £630 million each year for treatment provided to British citizens abroad, yet—I think she said this—we claim back only about £30 million for treatment provided to EU citizens in this country. Why?
The question I answered did not relate to moneys claimed, and perhaps it would be helpful if I were to explain further. The figures are not directly comparable because, for example, about 171,000 pensioners who are UK citizens live in Spain, France and Ireland—it is right that we are responsible for their health care—whereas only 5,000 registered pensioners from member countries live in the UK. I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the average payment per UK citizen who lives abroad is about £3,225 whereas the amount we claim per citizen from other member states is about £3,369.
Is it not a fact that many more British citizens live in EU member states than Europeans live here, and that they tend to be older and not at work, whereas the younger European citizens are working here? Thus, it ill behoves the Conservative party, despite its loathing for Europe, to bring this up with a xenophobic tone such as we have heard from those on the Conservative Benches.
It is true that we have responsibility for about 220,000 UK citizens who choose to live in other EU member states. The House might be interested to learn that from May new EU regulations will come into force that will speed up the reimbursement and claims process. That will be of benefit to all member states.
I must press the Minister further on her response to my hon. Friend the Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Bone). Despite considerable immigration into the UK in the past decade or so and according to Government figures, the amount that the UK is claiming against EU member states is less than 10 per cent. of the net UK payment to member states. Is she confident that these figures are comprehensive and complete? Could she explain why the Government are failing to reclaim 20 per cent. of the taxpayer’s money owed by these countries?
There is no failure to claim. [Interruption.] Because I am not that well qualified as an accountancy adviser.
Accounts are resource based, and if we look at those accounts—they are being referred to—we find that they do include money or claims yet to be received. I hope that the House will also be interested to learn that we have recently negotiated a deal with the Irish Government to reduce the UK liability by some €87 million over three years, and we will be reviewing our agreement in order to provide further savings. I hope that the House will welcome that progress.