§ MR. J. R. YORKEasked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether, having regard to the statements made to him by a deputation on the 21st instant on the subject of the prevalence of scarlet fever in the Metropolis and the increase of centres of infection, owing to the absence of all provision for the reception of convalescents from that infectious and dangerous disorder, he will give this urgent question his immediate attention; whether it is the duty of the Local Government Board to make provision for the establishment of convalescent homes in connection with the fever hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums Board; whether the existing state of the Law admits of this being done efficiently; and, if it does not, whether he will take immediate steps to obtain by legislation the necessary powers?
§ MR. DODSONSir, I shall not fail to give my attention to the matter. There is no duty imposed upon the Local Government Board to require the establishment of convalescent homes in con- 1935 nection with the fever hospitals of the Metropolis. Assuming that such homes can properly be considered hospitals for the sick, the Board would have a discretionary power in respect to them. Having regard, however, to the recent action which has been taken to suppress some of the small-pox hospitals, it is not likely that the Board would at this moment meet with much encouragement, if it attempted to exercise such a power.