TAXPAYERS in Southampton are paying £300,000 for a national service that prevents infected food and animals being brought in to the country through the city’s port.

Labour’s Alan Whitehead secured a Commons debate to call for Government funding to cover the cost of running the port’s health authority, which he described as the nation’s “last line of defence” but is paid for by “the council taxpayers of Southampton”.

The authority helps to stop the spread of infectious diseases that could be brought in from vessels as well as enforcing controls on imported food, such as testing Japanese products for radiation in the wake of its nuclear disaster.

Although much of the £1.1m a year running costs for the organisation, which employs 13 people and is staffed round the clock, are covered by fees imposed on ships the shortfall has to come from the city council.

Dr Whitehead urged ministers to take action to stop over-stretched council coffers having to meet the burden of funding a service “so our dinner tables and public health can be protected”.

Local government minister Bob Neill said a review was due to be launched later this year on the Government funding and that may have an impact.