§ Mr. Lomasasked the Minister of Health if he is satisfied that the screening of immigrants at ports of entry in the United Kingdom is satisfactory on matters relating to health, particularly tuberculosis; if he will take steps to make it obligatory for all immigrants entering this country to undergo the health checks available; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonI am satisfied that immigrants coming here from the Commonwealth to settle are normally examined either in their country of origin or at our ports of entry. In the majority of cases this includes an X-ray examination for tuberculosis.
In an exceptional instance in September, an unexpectedly large number of immigrants arrived together at London Airport, and in order to facilitate the movement of passengers, some immigrants from the Commonwealth were not examined. Most of them were in any case not subject to refusal of entry; and their destination addresses were passed to the appropriate local Medical Officers of Health for suitable follow-up action where they settled.