§ MR. SUMMERBELL (Sunderland)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state the number of deaths in the Uganda Protectorate from sleeping sickness during the past five years; and if the Government intend to take any action in regard to the prevention of such disease.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. CHURCHILL, Manchester, N.W.)It is impossible to obtain accurate statistics regarding the mortality from sleeping-sickness in Uganda, but in a recent despatch the Governor has estimated the number of deaths at 200,000 during the past seven years. Every effort is being made by the Government to combat the disease by scientific investigation under the direction of the Royal Society, by local administrative measures, and by international co-operation with the other Powers whose possessions in Africa are similarly afflicted.
§ MAJOR ANSTRUTHER-GRAY (St. Andrews Burg's)Can the right hon. Gentleman say if this sleeping sickness is on the increase or decrease?
§ MR. CHURCHILLIt is on the decrease in the locality affected, but not by reason of the means of curing it, but because of the exhaustion of the population.