§ 35. Mr. GALLACHERasked the Minister of Health whether it was upon instructions given by him to the immigration officer at Dover that a party of 14 Spanish citizens, travelling from Barcelona and passing in transit through England, were held for a medical examination; what was the purpose of so doing; and whether all persons sympathising with the Burgos insurgents are also subjected to such an examination when they visit this country?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Mr. R. S. Hudson)Advice was recently given by my Department to the medical officers of health of Dover and of other ports and air-ports that, in view of the risk of the introduction of infectious disease into this country from Spain under present conditions, all travellers arriving at those ports who were known to have come from that country should be medically inspected. The members of the party in question were accordingly referred to the Medical Inspector of Aliens. It was ascertained that they did not intend to stay in this country but were in transit to Russia. They were consequently not medically examined but were merely subjected to the ordinary routine medical inspection.
§ Mr. GALLACHERIs the hon. Gentleman not aware that when these travellers arrived from Spain with transit visas and diplomatic passports travellers from Spain representing the Burgos Government came over in the same boat and passed right into the train? Can he explain how it is that one set was stopped and held up and the other allowed to pass on?
§ Mr. HUDSONIf the hon. Member has any other information in his possession, I shall be glad to receive it.
§ Mr. GALLACHERIs the hon. Gentleman. not aware that every day they are passing to and fro without any examination?
Captain BALFOURShould not a policy of the greatest care against contagious diseases have the unanimous support of the party that refused Trotsky admission to the country?