CAB129-36 — Page 614

Printed for the Cabinet. September 1949

Page 614362

SECRET

C.P. (49) 196

29th September, 1949

CABINET

Copy No.31

SOCIAL AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE: RECIPROCAL ARRANGEMENTS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES

MEMORANDUM BY THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL INSURANCE

1. In C.P. (49) 190 the Minister of Health refers to a Convention on this subject (reproduced at Annex) which has just been drawn up by a technical sub- committee of the Brussels Treaty Permanent Commission. He points out that this Convention only covers indigent nationals of any of the contracting countries who are normally resident in one of them, and leaves untouched the wider problem of medical treatment for resident aliens who are not without resources, and foreign visitors. He proposes that we should try to widen the present negotiations so as to cover both these classes, or at least visitors, on better terms.

2. I agree with this proposal on the assumption that it is not intended to hold up the signing of the Convention whilst these new negotiations are being pursued. Apart from its medical aspect the new draft Convention contains limited but valuable provisions for reciprocity in the matter of financial assistance. In this country such assistance is available to anyone in need, irrespective of his nationality. Unfortunately the other countries are not so broadminded, with the result that the position of our nationals becoming destitute in, say, France, is often very bad indeed. They may be refused assistance on nationality grounds and left to private charity or referred to our Consuls. The latter may have to arrange for their repatriation at public expense, and when they reach this country they have to be cared for by the National Assistance Board. Particularly hard cases occur where the person, though technically of British nationality, has lost all his connections with this country and may even be unable to speak English. Nor is the present situation in any way fair to the British taxpayer. The draft Convention does not impose on the other countries obligations quite as wide as those which we have already voluntarily assumed, but it is a start, and I am anxious to get it adopted whilst the going is good. For the first time it opens the way to the payment of public assistance to persons of British nationality who may be in need in any of the contracting countries.

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3. No doubt a good way of redrafting will be wanted to put the Sub- Committee's wording into proper diplomatic form and I understand that it is now being examined from that point of view by the Foreign Office experts. I hope that it may be possible to get a suitable revised version agreed by the other countries in time for signature at the next meeting of the Consultative Council in November.

Ministry of National Insurance, S.W. 1,

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