§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will reconsider the transfer of responsibility for health checks on ships from the City of London health authority to the National Health Service on 1st April in view of the informed resistance to this change in regulation;
(2) whether he will reconsider the transfer of responsibility from port health authorities to the masters of ships for the reporting of infectious diseases from 1st April in view of the informed concern about this change of regulation;
(3) whether he will seek to increase the maximum £100 fine levied on ships' masters who fail to report cases of serious illness in their crews.
§ Mr. MoyleI refer my hon. Friend to the very full reply that I gave on these matters in the debate of 3rd April 1978 on Prayers to annul the Public Health (Aircraft) Amendment Regulations and the Public Health (Ships) Amendment Regulations (SI 1978/286 and 287), which now govern these arrangements.—[Vol. 947, c. 193–203].
Although the motion to annul the regulations was negatived I explained the options open to the London Port Health Authority, in consultation with the area health authority, within those regulations and that I would consult my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department on any representations to me about the penalties referred to.