Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of UK ports of entry have had (a) Public Health England, (b) Public Health Wales, (c) Public Health Scotland and (d) Public Health Northern Ireland staff permanently located at those ports alongside UK Border Force since 1 January 2020; and how many staff from those organisations were located at each of those ports.

Public Health England (PHE) has staff permanently located at London Heathrow. Exact numbers vary with demand. PHE’s Heathrow based Health Control Unit provides all English ports with 24 hours a day, seven days a week public health support, risk assessments and advice. PHE also works with local National Health Services and other first responders to provide local health support when needed.

Public health is a devolved issue and it is up to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to decided how, what and where resources are deployed at ports of entry, which will vary depending on demand.