To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Thornton on 10 February (WA 151–2), whether they will publish the agreement reached with the Republic of Ireland on the closure of the 2003–06 European Union healthcare costs account and the settlement for 2007–09; whether it differs from the United Kingdom's arrangements with other European Union countries; and how payments will be calculated for 2010 and future years until new arrangements are in place. [HL2491]

The United Kingdom has many different bilateral arrangements with European Union countries and there is no uniform approach.

To reach agreement with Ireland for the years 2003-06, the United Kingdom made a further and final payment of €100 million.

For years 2007-09, the UK agreed to accept liability for 40 per cent of the pensioner caseload, a reduction on previous years. For future years, both Governments are looking into the feasibility of introducing a pensioner registration scheme.