Conservatives unveil immigrant health check plans

The Conservatives have unveiled plans to make immigrants coming to Britain undergo a system of compulsory medical checks, in order to reduce health risks posed by immigration.

Under the new proposals, permanent settlers in Britain from countries outside the EU would have to demonstrate "an acceptable standard of health and prove that they would be unlikely to be a danger to public health in the UK. They would have to undergo a medical examination which would involve a health check-up, chest X-rays for tuberculosis (TB) for everyone except children and pregnant women, plus hepatitis and HIV tests for everyone over the age of 16.

The proposals would also affect temporary workers from outside the EU, coming to Britain to work for between six and twelve months. Any workers coming from a high incidence TB country would have to undergo a chest X-ray, followed up by further tests, if indicated.

However, workers coming to Britain for less than six months would not need to undergo the tests, unless they planned to work in healthcare, childcare or teaching.

Conservative leader, Michael Howard, said that only TB would prevent workers from being issued with a visa – all other conditions would be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, to consider what costs, if any, would be incurred by the NHS.

Mr Howard claimed that similar measures had already proved effective in Canada, New Zealand and Australia and said that they were "plain common sense".

He said: "The British people deserve the best standards of public health and to protect access to the NHS. At the next election, people will face a clear choice: limited and controlled immigration under the Conservatives or unlimited immigration under Mr Blair."

Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Mark Oaten, criticised the plans, saying: "They are in danger of pandering to prejudice rather than challenging it."

Alan Milburn, Labour's General Election Co-ordinator, said:"The Tories are flailing around because they have failed to make any sort of headway. Rather than simply talking tough, the government is dealing with the issue. Our five year plan puts in place strict controls that work to combat asylum abuse and illegal immigration."

Mr Milburn added: "The five year plan also makes clear our approach is that, as part of the visa application process, it will be necessary for people from the countries with the highest risk of TB to undergo screening to prove they are clear, otherwise they will be refused permission to travel to the United Kingdom until clear of the disease."

(KMcA/SP)