European Health Insurance Card

Mr. Hayes
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what data is stored on the European Health Insurance Card; and what the cost of the project is estimated to be in the UK.

Ms Rosie Winterton
The only information on the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is the face readable information. There is no electronic data stored. The face readable information is as follows:

name;

given names;

date of birth; and

identification numbers used for administrative purposes (not linked to national insurance numbers, NHS numbers or any other personal data).

The cost of implementing the EHIC was approximately £13.2 million and this includes all publicity costs and the issue of 17 million cards.