HC Deb 13 November 1980 vol 992 cc368-70W
Mr. Stanbrook

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will announce the conclusion of the review of medical examinations in the immigration context.

Mr. Whitelaw

On 19 February 1979 my predecessor announced that, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer, Sir Henry Yellowlees, he was reviewing the nature and conduct of medical examinations in the immigration control context.

This announcement followed expressions of concern in Parliament and elsewhere arising principally from the examination of a woman seeking entry at Heathrow airport, and the use of X-rays in examinations overseas in order to assess age. More generally, there was concern that all medical examinations in the immigration control context should be conducted with proper regard to the dignity and rights of the individuals examined.

As part of the review, the procedures for medical examinations were studied in this country and overseas, including Islamabad, New Delhi, Bombay and Dacca. Sir Henry Yellowlees has reported to me as follows:

  1. (a) medical examinations of people subject to immigration control who wish to enter the United Kingdom are carried out sympathetically, humanely, and with proper regard to the dignity and rights of the person concerned;
  2. (b) the previous Government's instructions that doctors were not to be asked by immigration officers or entry clearance officers to make an examination to determine whether a woman had borne children or had sexual intercourse are understood and obeyed;
  3. (c) where it is important to assess the age of children and other satisfactory evidence is not available, X-rays of the limb bones (taken with proper precautions) afford a fairly accurate and acceptably safe method of doing so, although in the case of adults the method is not significantly accurate.

In relation to the third finding, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has already given instructions to posts overseas requiring entry clearance officers not to refer adults for X-ray examination to assess age, although such examinations confined to the limb joints are permitted for children.

This review also provided the opportunity for examining in varying degrees of detail here and overseas the professional and administrative arrangements for the medical examination of persons intending to come to this country for settlement or with the prospect of settlement.

Sir Henry Yellowlees has indicated a number of areas in which further study is desirable. These are being examined and I have asked Sir Henry Yellowlees to continue to advise me on them as necessary.