IMMIGRANTS without private medical insurance should not be allowed to enter this country, according to Ilkley MP Ann Cryer.

Mrs Cryer said a new rule would put an end to disquiet about so-called health tourists' who entered this country purely to benefit from the National Health Service.

During a debate in the House of Commons, Mrs Cryer said: "There is some disquiet about the availability of free health care to those who have not contributed to the costs of the health service.

"A solution could be found by introducing a requirement for those entering this country or their sponsors, to purchase private health insurance as a prerequisite for the granting of an entry clearance visa and until indefinite leave to remain is granted. Most UK citizens would not travel abroad without such cover."

Mrs Cryer said that she was also in favour of immigration and emigration controls so a proper census on the number of people in the country could be compiled. And she supported the introduction of the national identity card.

She said: "As an old-fashioned socialist and a believer in a planned economy, I have never been able to understand the attraction of an open-door policy."

"To plan future provision in education, health and so on, we must have some idea of how many we are catering for at any given time. This is another good reason for the introduction of ID cards.

"They will not defeat terrorism, but they will give us a more accurate idea of how many citizens will need the different kinds of provision in the coming years, and even of how many will not be entitled to it."

Mrs Cryer made her comments during a debate into the second reading of the UK Borders Bill which deals with illegal immigrants and human trafficking.

Mrs Cryer said that she welcomed the parts of the Bill which, if implemented, allowed the British authorities to prosecute traffickers whether or not the alleged offences took place in this country or abroad.

"I trust that those measures will lead to a marked reduction in the sum total of human misery perpetrated frequently on vulnerable women and children," said Mrs Cryer.

She also used the debate over the Bill to make another plea for the Government to make it against the law to force someone to marry against their will.

Mrs Cryer said: "We now have the forced marriages unit, which helps about 350 girls a year-plus some men-to avoid or to find their way round the practice of forced marriage. That work is carrying on apace. I am disappointed, however, that we do not have a specific criminal offence of forced marriage.

"Sending the right message-that forced marriage is both illegal and un-Islamic-would have a powerful deterrent effect, which would be welcomed."

l Mrs Cryer MP is backing a campaign to encourage more disabled people to use public transport and exercise new rights to fair treatment on buses, trains, trams and taxis.

The Disability Rights Commission's (DRC's) campaign is being launched with a poll revealing that disabled people are four times more likely to lack confidence using buses and trains than non-disabled people.

The DRC's campaign- GOJO - follows changes to the Disability Discrimination Act introduced in December 2006. Under the new legislation a bus driver is required to notify someone with a visual impairment when they reach their stop and train staff can be asked to bring refreshments to a passenger who can't walk to the buffet car.