§ Mr. McDonnellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the role is of the London borough of Hillingdon in relation to the Health Control Unit at Heathrow Airport; and what funding is provided to the London borough of Hillingdon for its pay and rations functions in relation the Health Control Unit. [158371]
§ Yvette CooperThe health control unit at Heathrow Airport is responsible for (i) arranging medical examinations of entrants to the United Kingdom referred 759W to it by the Immigration Service and (ii) applying the Public Health (Aircraft) Regulations 1979 at the airport. The medical and radiography staff working in the unit are provided and managed by Hillingdon health authority. The London borough of Hillingdon provides and manages the other staff, and pays the cost of the unit's accommodation. It is reimbursed for its expenditure by the Department.
§ Mr. McDonnellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what audit has been undertaken of the funding provided to the London borough of Hillingdon for the management of the Health Control Unit at Heathrow Airport. [158367]
§ Yvette CooperMy Department has no powers to carry out formal audits of expenditure by the London borough of Hillingdon, although officials scrutinise both the authority's estimates and claims for reimbursement and ask for an explanation of any changes from previous patterns of expenditure. Audit of Hillingdon's expenditure is a matter for its own internal auditors and for the Audit Commission.
§ Mr. McDonnellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what level of funding was provided by his Department for the Health Control Unit at Heathrow Airport in(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97, (c) 1997–98, (d) 1999–2000 and (e) 2000–01. [158372]
§ Yvette CooperThe table shows the sums reimbursed by the Department in connection with expenditure on the health control unit by the London borough of Hillingdon. In addition, the Department paid for three new X-ray machines which were installed in the unit in 1999–2000 at a cost of £1.25 million.
£000 1995–96 1,428 1996–97 1,356 1997–98 1,325 1998–99 1,488 1999–2000 1,547 2000–01 1,577