§ 4. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Under-Secretary of State for India what information he has about the reported outbreak of plague in India; what is its extent and nature and what steps are being taken to deal with it?
§ Earl WINTERTONI am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy of the full statement received on this subject from the Government of India, which has been communicated to the Press, and which gives the latest information available.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs there any cause for alarm in regard to the statements in the Press as to the extent of the outbreak?
§ Earl WINTERTONIt is difficult to say that there is no cause for alarm. There is always cause for alarm when there is a fresh outbreak of plague, but I can inform the hon. and gallant Member, as stated in the Press communication, that the number of deaths for the last week in March, for which we have particulars, is less than the mean average for the 20 years up to 1917.