HC Deb 30 March 1896 vol 39 cc380-1
MR. HERBERT DUNCOMBE (Cumberland, Egremont)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, in reference to the alarming statements made in the Annual Report of the Sanitary Commissioner to the Government of India for 1894 as to the prevalence of venereal diseases in the Indian Army, and which statements are admitted to be true, what steps he proposes to take to remedy the evil?

LORD GEORGE HAMILTON

The growth of venereal disease in the Indian Army, consequent upon the abolition of the previous protective measures against it—[cheers]—has been a source of great concern to the Government of India, who report that it prevails "to such an extent as to constitute a most serious cause of inefficiency in the Army." The Government of India are considering what instructions or regulations it may be possible for them to issue to mitigate this scourge and without infringing the restriction imposed upon them by the Resolution passed by this House upon this subject.

MR. DUNCOMBE

Is there any possibility of those Resolutions being rescinded? [Cheers.]

[No answer was returned.]