Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has made to the governments of other EEA countries on funds owed to the NHS.

Under European Union Regulations, other European Economic Area (EEA) countries and Switzerland reimburse the United Kingdom for the cost of the National Health Service providing treatment to people they are responsible for under EU law, including UK nationals insured in another EEA country or Switzerland. In the same way, the UK Government reimburses other EEA countries and Switzerland for the cost of providing treatment to people we are responsible for under EU law, irrespective of nationality.

All EEA counties, including the UK, have a legal obligation to pay agreed claims relating to healthcare treatment provided. Once both sides are satisfied that such claims are accurate, they are paid in full.

As such, the Secretary of State does not need to make formal representations to other Member States for payments.