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Dept of Health

Answer

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures the Government have taken to alert British citizens to the 31 December deadline after which E111 forms issued before August will be invalid; how much has been spent on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising, (d) leaflets and (e) other campaigns; and if he will make a statement. [194665] Mr. Hutton: The Department is carrying out a number of measures to publicise the arrangements for the new E111. The Department is working closely with a number of other Government Departments and agencies including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Passport Agency, using channels of communication which already exist with the travelling public. We are working through organisations in the travel industry, such as the Association of British Insurers, the Association of British Travel Agencies and the Federation of Tour Operators to ensure the message is sent to their membership companies and to the travelling public. We have produced leaflets and posters which have been distributed to travel agents and other outlets, including Thomas Cook, MyTravel, Boots the Chemists and British Airways travel shops. We have also worked with the Post Office, who process the E111, to ensure the new form is publicised in their outlets. Finally we have placed press advertising in the travel supplements of national newspapers across the United Kingdom and in travel trade magazines. Final costs are not yet available as this publicity is on-going but about £170,000 has been spent to date.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

194665; 426 c389W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Advertising Costs EU countries Health services Leaflets Newspaper press Publicity Media Radio Reciprocal arrangements Travel Television Holidays abroad

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk