Written question asked by Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative) on Tuesday, 24 February 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 18 May 2004. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Tuesday, 18 May 2004 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what reports have been (a) commissioned and (b) received by his Department since 1997 on the usefulness of screening immigrants for TB by X-ray at the ports of entry; and if he will publish them. (Report in Library Dep 04/1059). - Inc ref to report in Library.

Answer: Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reports have been (a) commissioned and (b) received by his Department since 1997 on the usefulness of screening immigrants for TB by X-ray at the ports of entry; and if he will publish them. [156844] Miss Melanie Johnson: A four-month pilot study of the medical inspection function was conducted at Heathrow airport in 1997 which tested an approach whereby immigrants who were high risk for Tuberculosis were screened by the health control unit only if they had no valid United Kingdom address; in other cases the unit simply forwarded their contact details to the districts concerned to arrange screening. The report was distributed to those involved in the study, including Hillingdon health authority. Copies have been placed in the Library.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 156844; 421 c961W
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Migrants Medical examinations Ports Screening Research Tuberculosis
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk