HC Deb 13 March 1902 vol 104 cc1272-4
SIR W. HART DYKE (Kent, Dartford)

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that in the town of Dartford and surrounding villages, and district, the smallpox is spreading with great rapidity; whether he is aware that about 2,000 workmen have been lately employed upon new buildings at the Smallpox Hospital near Dartford, and that the said workmen are lodging in Dartford and the neighbouring villages, and causing thereby the spread of the disease in all directions; whether steps can be taken to secure accommodation for these workmen upon the spot where they work, and thus arrest the danger of contagion; whether any, and what, communications have taken place between the Local Government Board and the Asylums Board on this subject.

MR. WALTER LONG

I am aware that there have been numerous cases of smallpox in the localities referred to. It is a fact that about 2,000 workmen are being employed upon new buildings at the Smallpox Hospital near Dartford. Some of these men are lodging in Dartford and the neighbouring villages, but a large proportion of them sleep in huts built for them on the site. It is not expected that all would avail themselves of this accommodation, and if it were made compulsory for the men to live on the site, it is probable they would leave their work. It is most important that the buildings should be completed as soon as possible. I have been in communication with the managers of the Metropolitan Asylum District on this subject, and I am pressing upon them to use every effort to secure that the workmen are accommodated on the site as far as practicable. I may add that every facility for vaccination is afforded to the workmen, and that as regards those employed nearest to buildings containing cases of smallpox, they were, some time since, required to be vaccinated.

SIR W. HART DYKE

As this is a very grave matter, I feel I must put a supplementary Question. I beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman if he is aware that a large number of these workmen, after their week's work, are in the habit of travelling to London to their homes by train and remaining there until Monday, and whether, in view of the certain risk of spreading the disease, not only as regards railway carriages, but as regards the Metropolitan districts, he does not see the absolute necessity of securing the detention of these workmen and providing accommodation for them on the spot.

MR. WALTER LONG

I quite agree that it is a very serious matter, but I may point out that I have no power to secure that these men are kept on the spot. It is impossible to provide for them on the spot. It is most desirable that there should be no risk of spreading the disease outside the Metropolitan area. What is a much more grave question is that provision should be made for the cases within that area as rapidly as possible. If cases cannot be received in the hospitals, the risk of the spread of the disease will be great. Every effort is being made to provide for the men on the spot, and to secure that they shall be vaccinated; and I can only repeat that if the people in the districts concerned who fear infection will only be vaccinated, the risk will be largely diminished.

MR. THOMAS BAYLEY

asked whether another hospital ship could not be found. Would not that remove the difficulty?

MR. WALTER LONG

It would not affect the matter in the slightest degree. It has nothing on earth to do with it. It is practically impossible to provide another hospital ship in time, and even if it were, a hospital ship could receive only a very few patients. The Metropolitan Asylums Board are endeavouring by the buildings they are erecting to double the number of beds they have at present.