§ MR. PIERPOINT (Warrington)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War, whether his attention has been called to the state of affairs in regard to venereal disease which prevails in 32 Gibraltar; whether the committee, which was appointed recently to inquire into the general and sanitary condition of the fortress, has reported on this question; whether he will state to the House the comparative figures as to venereal disease between Gibraltar and the other Mediterranean stations, as well as the Home stations; and, whether any steps are being taken in the matter?
§ * THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. G. WYNDHAM,) DoverThe report from the Committee on Gibraltar has been received. It deals, among other matters, with venereal disease. In respect of the garrison, during the five years ending in 1897, the admissions averaged 290 per thousand in each year, as against 152 at Malta and 170 in the United Kingdom. The average daily number in hospital was 28.3 per thousand, as against 13.5 at Malta and 15.0 at home. The report of the Committee is under consideration.