§ Mr. Redmondasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the substantial proportion of immigrants who require hospital services in this country very shortly after their arrival, he is satisfied that the present arrangements are adequate to prevent immigrants not enjoying the fullest health to enter the country; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonI do not know what immigrants my hon. Friend has in mind but in general I believe that the present arrangements provide fair and reasonable safeguards. All immigrants are subject to medical examination either at our ports and airports or in their coun-360W tries of origin. If they propose to come here to work they may be refused entry on grounds of ill health, and if they come from distant parts of the Commonwealth there are arrangements for them to be medically examined before they set out. Exceptions to this are the wives and children under age 16 of immigrants who have come here from the Commonwealth to work; these dependants are entitled to come, but they also are subject to medical examination on arrival and can if necessary be admitted subject to a condition that they report to the medical officer at their local destination with a view to receiving any necessary treatment.