Healthcare: Costs

House of Lords written question – answered at on 18 November 2013.

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Photo of Lord Laird Lord Laird Non-affiliated

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 24 October (WA 187), what was the most recent annual amount paid to the government of Ireland for the health costs of United Kingdom pensioners resident there; on what basis that figure was calculated, and on what number of pensioners or percentage thereof; and whether they will place in the Library of the House the relevant letters on which that calculation is based.

Photo of Earl Howe Earl Howe The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health

The latest annual figure is for 2012-13 and was £246,828,154* for pensioners. The basis on which the pensioner figure was calculated, including the percentage of pensioners was included in a letter of 11 July 2011 to Ireland's Department of Health and Children. The relevant section of that letter is included as follows:

Reimbursement arrangements for 2010-2013

For 2010-2013, we agreed that we would not pursue the use of another triennial survey, which otherwise would have been due. As an alternative arrangement, we have agreed that between 2010 and 2013, UK liability to Ireland (currently 40%) will fall, year on year, by 1.13%. This figure was agreed after both parties noted an average downward trend in UK liability for dual pensioners since the start of the bilateral agreement in 1971. As a result, UK liability will be 35.48% by 2013. Applying the same principle, Irish liability will stand at 4.44%. We agreed that such a deal would provide a logical and pragmatic approach; remove the need to enter negotiations about Department for Work and Pensions resource for a triennial survey (along with your equivalent), and see an end to protracted negotiations regarding pensioner numbers and categories of UK liability for those years.

*Source:

Resource Accounting and Budgeting exercise. Totals are based on estimates of the costs of European Economic Area healthcare claims made annually for the purposes of provisions made in the Department's accounts in accordance with HM Treasury resource accounting rules.

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