§ MR. COGHILL (Stoke-upon-Trent)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the renewed outbreak of smallpox in North Staffordshire; and if he can state what provision has been made for hospital accommodation by the local authorities, and what steps the Local Government Hoard propose to take to deal with the epidemic.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. WALTER LONG, Bristol, S.)I am aware that an outbreak of smallpox has occurred in the Leek Urban District, and in connection with it I have sent a medical inspector to visit the locality and have received a report from him on the subject. Leek is included in the district of the North Staffordshire Joint Smallpox Hospital Board, and up to the date of the Inspector's report at the end of last week-all the cases of smallpox had been removed to the temporary hospital provided by that board. Further and better hospital accommodation seems to be required. I have already sanctioned the borrowing of money by the Hospital Board for this purpose. I am pressing 997 upon them to proceed with the works, and also to consider whether even further provision may not be needed.