HL Deb 10 May 1967 vol 282 cc1421-3

2.33 p.m.

LORD ELTON

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is true that large numbers of immigrants who, being under the age of 16, are not required to obtain entry certificates, and are therefore not referred to the medical officers of health of their places of destination, often move into new areas of the United Kingdom without the knowledge of the relevant medical authorities, with the frequent result that they themselves remain ignorant of the medical services available to them, and also that the medical authorities are not speedily aware of notifiable complaints from which they may be suffering; and if so, whether they propose to take any action to remedy this state of affairs.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS (LORD BESWICK)

My Lords, entry certificates apply only to Commonwealth immigrants; their possession is not compulsory, but many, including dependants, do obtain them. The names and destination addresses of these, and of all voucher-holders, are passed to the local medical officers of health from the port of entry, but it is not practicable at present to obtain addresses from dependants who arrive without entry certificates. All those coming in for settlement are given a leaflet or card, advising them to register with a doctor.

LORD ELTON

My Lords, I am grateful for that Answer, of which I could not hear quite all. I would only ask further whether, in so far as this state of affairs exists—and I gathered that it does to some extent exist—the noble Lord will always bear in mind that it involves a double threat, both to the immigrants, who must themselves be in need of help and advice, and to the public health of the country.

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, I am not quite sure to what state of affairs the noble Lord refers, but there is in some respects a certain difficulty—indeed, I would go so far as to say an inadequacy. But I believe that we go as far as we can to meet this difficulty. As I have said, at the port of entry a card, printed in eight languages, four of them Asiatic, is given to each dependant immigrant, advising him to register with a doctor and explaining that to do this would be in his own interests. I gather that of the 31,739 immigrants who came in 1966 and whose names and addresses we had, two in three were successfully contacted, and of this total 23,027 were Commonwealth immigrants. I think that we are doing as much as possible under the present legislation.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, would my noble friend consider sending this information also to the International Friendship Councils which are now being appointed in the various countries and also to the liaison officers, so that this gap may be filled?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, that seems to be a very good suggestion. I should be very surprised to find that it had not already been carried out, but I will certainly look into it.