Peer defends UK health agreement stance

Peers have attacked the United Kingdom Government for ending the Reciprocal Health Agreement with the Isle of Man, and similar arrangements with the Channel Islands.

Speaking for the government, Lord Tunnicliffe said the agreements 'did not represent value for money for the UK taxpayer'.

But some Lords claimed the decision could damage the UK's reputation, and tourism in the crown dependencies.

Crossbench peer Lord Quirk, a Manxman, said visitors from Switzerland were still entitled to all NHS treatment free of charge, despite the country not being in the European Union.

Lord Tunnicliffe said there were bilateral agreeents where such arrangements 'made sense', and defended the UK government's actions: