§ MR. DUNCOMBE (Cumberland, Egremont)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received a statement from the Straits Settlements Association showing that in the five years ending 1896 the ratio of venereal disease among the troops in the Tanglin district of Singapore was 434.17 per 1,000, as against 144.81 per 1,000 in the five years ending 1888, before the repeal of the contagious diseases ordinance, and containing statements by Brigade Surgeon Lieutenant Colonel H. H. Stokes, that of the sickness in his command 50 per cent. is of venereal origin, and by Captain Bruce, of H.M.S. Orion, which left Singapore in 1890, that more than half of the ship's company had been in hospital with venereal disease during the year; and what measures he proposes to take to prevent the continuance of a system under which such widespread disease involving such serious impairment of our military strength in the Straits Settlements is rendered possible?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.I stated, in reply to similar Questions asked on the 28th April, that I was in correspondence with the Governor of the Straits Settlements on this subject, and that, when completed, the correspondence would be laid before the House.
§ MR. DUNCOMBECan the right honourable Gentleman give the House any idea when we may have the correspondence?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIESNo, I cannot.