§ MR. JOSEPH DEVLINTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the fact that on 22nd June, 1905, a woman appeared in the Belfast Summons Court carrying a child seriously ill with measles, in consequence of which her removal from the Court was ordered; whether the Notification of Diseases Act is in force in Belfast, and, if so, who is responsible for the case referred to not being reported to the proper authorities; and whether any inquiry will be ordered in the matter.
(Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The incident referred to has not been reported to the Local Government Board. The Infectious Diseases (Notification) Act, 1889, is in force in Belfast, but the definition of an infectious disease does not include measles. The local sanitary authority are empowered by Section 7 to extend the definition so as to include measles or any other infectious disease, but they have not availed themselves of this power in regard to measles.