Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much money has been spent from the public purse on repayments to EU nations for healthcare provided by those nations for UK nationals since June 2016.

The Department on behalf of the United Kingdom Government reimburses other European Economic Area (EEA) countries and Switzerland for the cost of providing treatment to people we are responsible for under European Union law, irrespective of nationality. In the same way, other EEA countries and Switzerland reimburse the UK 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.

Member State claims against the UK are in local currency so totals are significantly affected by the exchange rate at the time of payment and can mean a difference of millions of pounds. Member States can submit claims up to 18 months in arrears so claims for any 12 month period do not necessarily reflect treatment provided in that period.

The figures requested, rounded to the nearest pound, are attached. They include the claims for all treatments, including emergency and planned.

Figures for 2017/18 should be published over the summer.