§ Mrs. Faithasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information is given when Vietnamese refugees transfer from one reception centre to another as to whether appropriate medical screening and preventive measures to stop the spread of communicable diseases have been carried out.
§ Mr. RaisonIn addition to any medical screening of refugees on their departure for this country, there is further screening on arrival at a reception centre. Arrangements have been made to ensure that neither transfer to another reception centre nor permanent resettlement takes place until the local medical authorities are satisfied that the person concerned is fit to move freely in the community. I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services that there are established procedures for the transmission of the individual records of patients generally, but that it is for local discussion whether any additional arrangements need to be made in cases such as these.