§ 24. Mr. F. Noel-Bakerasked the Minister of Health what steps he has taken to ensure that all aircraft are properly disinfected and cleared of flies and other insects before or on arrival at United Kingdom airports.
§ Miss PittAll civil aircraft coming from countries outside Western European Union and the Republic of Ireland must declare on landing when and where they were last disinfected and cleared of insects. The health authority then decides what further action to require on grounds of health.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerCan the hon. Lady give a categorical assurance that the World Health Organisation recommendations about aircraft disinfestation are being rigidly applied at all British airports? Further, is she satisfied with the procedure laid down by the W.H.O., and are we in fact taking advantage of the most up-to-date and effective insecticides which are available for this work?
§ Miss PittPast experience has shown that the risk of introducing infectious diseases into this country by aircraft is very small. If the House will forgive 17 this rather long answer, I will explain the position. Disinfecting or disinsecting on arrival in the United Kingdom is not normally necessary since in some circumstances, for example, in the case of yellow fever infected areas, the international sanitary regulations require, among other sanitary measures, the disinfection or disinsecting of the aircraft before departure, and in any case no vector-borne quarantinable disease exists in this country and public health measures would prevent its spread were it introduced.