Member News
By Lord Smith of Clifton - 24th January 2010
Lord Smith of Clifton writes for ePolitix.com ahead of his question on the removal of reciprocal health agreements with UK crown dependencies.
My question will probe further the reasons behind the government's unilateral decision to cancel the reciprocal health agreements with the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. The costs involved are miniscule but the misery caused will be out of all proportion to any savings made. The main impact will be on those of us, including myself, who cannot obtain health insurance because of our medical condition. It is ageist in its effect; many travelling to and from the UK to the crown dependencies are senior citizens who won't now be covered.
The decision also raises issues about the free flow of travel between citizens of these islands. It will impact deleteriously both on tourism and family visiting. That will, of course, be further exacerbated by the decision to abolish the long-standing Common Travel Area that allows crown dependency residents ease of access with not just the UK but also the Republic of Ireland. Are these two developments linked, I wonder? And, if so, what are the motives behind these decisions?
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd