§ Mr. Bidwellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received a protest from Ealing Community Relations Council about testing Asian single women at Heathrow to ascertain virginity.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesYes.
§ Mr. Bidwellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what rule virginity testing of immigrant women was undertaken.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe medical examination in the recent case which my hon. Friend has in mind was sought to establish whether the passenger concerned had borne children. The authority for the medical examination of any person subject to immigration control who seeks entry to the United Kingdom is contained in paragraph 2 of schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971. The practice to be followed by the immigration service is laid down in the immigration rules for control on entry—paragraphs 58 to 60 of the rules applying to Commonwealth citizens and paragraphs 60 to 62 of those applying to EEC and other non-Commonwealth nationals.
§ Mr. Bidwellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he proposes to take disciplinary action against those responsible for ordering virginity tests.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesMy inquiries into the recent case which my hon. Friend has in mind have disclosed no reason for disciplinary action. I have made it clear that the request made in this case is not to be made again.
§ Mr. Bidwellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has ordered a departmental inquiry into the facts leading to virginity tests.
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§ Mr. Merlyn ReesI have received reports on the recent incident at Heathrow and I have taken the necessary action to prevent a recurrence.
§ Mr. Bidwellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he proposes to apologise to a woman in Southall who suffered a virginity test because she feared being returned to India.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesI much regret the distress experienced by the woman in this case.
§ Mr. Bidwellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can explain why a gynaecological examination consent test form was signed by a radiologist.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe signature was that of a witness to the passenger's signed consent to the medical examination.
§ Mr. Bidwellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if virginity tests are carried out at British posts overseas on women applying to come to Great Britain for marriage.
§ Mr. LuardI have been asked to reply.
Such tests are not carried out at British posts overseas on women applying to come to the United Kingdom for marriage, who in any case are not required to apply for entry certificates before travelling to the United Kingdom. However, in the past few years there have been two possible exceptions to this in the course of general medical examinations. Instructions have now been given that no such tests should be requested in any circumstances in future.