HC Deb 21 February 1902 vol 103 cc716-7
MR. CORRIE GRANT

I beg to ask the Secretary of the Local Government Board, whether in this session the Government will bring in a measure enabling the local authority to enforce isolation upon persons known to have been in contact with others suffering from smallpox, and to provide reasonable compensation to such persons.

MR. WALTER LONG

The answer to the Question must be in the negative. I may state, however, that I propose to issue a circular in the course of a day or two, as regards the isolation of persons brought into contact with smallpox, based on the views held by the medical advisers of the Department.

MR. CORRIE GRANT

Is it possible to meet the case of persons who lose their wages? Very often such persons would be quite willing to submit to isolation if some provision was made for them.

MR. WALTER LONG

Does the hon. Member mean, can we sanction payment of their wages out of the rates?

MR. CORRIE GRANT

Yes.

MR. WALTER LONG

I do not think so. I do not think it would be desirable that district authorities, whether boards of guardians or municipal councils, should pay wages out of the rates. Detention need only be for a very short time. At present the local authorities can provide for the maintenance of people isolated, but to go further and pay their wages would be a serious step.

MR. CORRIE GRANT

Whilst maintenance has been undertaken by some local authorities, others have refused to undertake it, under the impression that they have no power to assume the liability.

MR. WALTER LONG

I think where local authorities have not acted it has been from a misapprehension, which has I believe, now been removed. I am not aware of any case now in which a local authority refuses to act.

MR. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)

Is there any power to prevent people from visiting patients?

MR. WALTER LONG

The Metropolitan Asylum managers have absolute powers. I am informed that they only sanction visits to patients who are believed to be dying. It is thought by the managers that it would be extremely difficult to refuse admission to relatives of patients whose death is imminent.