§ SIR JOSEPH LEESE (Lancashire, Accrington)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether the attention of the Local Government Board has been called to the outbreak of small-pox in many of the large centres of population of Lancashire and Yorkshire, and that the spread of the disease from town to town has been invariably found to be caused by persons of the tramp class; and whether the Board intend taking any, and, if so, what, action with the view of controlling or licen ing the movements of persons of the tramp class as a precaution against the spread of small-pox and other infectious diseases.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. WALTER LONG, Bristol, S.)I am quite aware of the outbreak of small-pox in the districts mentioned by the hon. Member. I do not think that the spread of the disease from town to town has been invariably caused by persons of the class referred to, but I am fully alive to the risk of diffusion of small-pox by this, means. I am not in a position to take action of the kind contemplated in the last part of the Question; but I, last month, issued a circular letter to Boards of Guardians drawing their attention to the danger of infection being conveyed by tramps, and urging them to secure as far as practicable the vaccination or re-vaccination of all persons relieved in the Vagrant Wards, and to cause a daily medical inspection of all the inmates. I am also advising the sanitary authorities of the districts concerned, through the medical inspectors of my Department, as to the adoption of all practicable precautions against the spread of small-pox from this source.
§ MR. COGHILL (Stoke-upon-Trent)Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many eases there are in Liverpool at the present moment?
§ MR. WALTER LONGNot without notice, but I will supply the hon. Member with the information.