§ MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India if he can state the number of people who have died from plague in India during the last year; and what steps have been taken to deal with this scourge.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. BUCHANAN,) Perthshire, E.In the year ending 31st December last the number of deaths from plague was 1,204,194. If the twelve months ending 30th. June, 1908, be taken, the number was 252,781, showing a very satisfactory decrease. Some account of the measures now adopted in combatting plague is given in the Return recently presented on the moral and material progress of India for the year 1906–7. They include the destruction of rats, the evacuation of infected quarters, the improvement of insanitary areas, and inoculation. Grants aggregating £200,000 a year have been made to Local Governments in this year's Budget for expenditure on sanitary improvements with special reference to the prevention of plague.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)Does the hon. Gentleman consider 250,000 deaths a matter which can be deemed a source of satisfaction?
§ MR. BUCHANANYes, because taking the whole year the mortality has been steadily decreasing.
§ MR. KEIR HARDIE (Merthyr Tydvil)Can the hon. Gentleman supply the corresponding figures for the previous year, showing the increase or decrease as the ease may be?
§ MR. BUCHANANCertainly.
§ MR. LUPTON (Lincolnshire, Sleaford)Is it not the fact that plague has now been going on for eleven years, and has it not been fomented by the serum which the plague officers have distributed in places which have been free from it?
§ MR. BUCHANANUnfortunately it has been going on a long time, but at present it is steadily declining, owing to the action of the plague officers.
§ MR. KEIR HARDIEIs not the poverty of the people the real cause of the plague?
§ MR. BUCHANANI do not think that can be substantiated. It is one of the redeeming features of the situation that plague does not follow famine. It prevails mostly in the more well-to-do parts of India, and not in famine districts.
§ *MR. REES (Montgomery Boroughs)asked if the total of 1,204,194 was not under ½ per cent. of the population—
§ *MR. SPEAKERThat leads to a matter of argument.
§ *MR. REESI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the mortality from plague in India, for the period during which the epidemic has prevailed, works out to an average of about 2.135 per 1,000 of the population; whether the mortality from tuberculosis in the United Kingdom last reported was abort 1.6 per 1,000 of the population; whether, having regard to the general rates of mortality prevailing amongst Eastern populations, the death rate from plague in India implies any greater failure to stay its ravages on the part of the Government of India than may be established against the administrators of this country for the high death rate resulting from tuberculosis; and whether he will take steps to make known the efforts made in India to diminish the death rate from plague.
§ MR. BUCHANANThe first figure given by the hon. Member is approximately correct, but the two averages quoted cannot in the Secretary of State's opinion be compared in the manner suggested. The steps taken to combat plague have already been made generally known through the Moral and Material Progress Report, and by other published statements.
§ *MR. REESIs there any reason to suppose the Government of India have been neglectful of their obligations in this important matter?
§ MR. BUCHANANThe figures show, on the contrary, that they have been very active indeed.
§ MR. LUPTONIs it not the fact that previous plagues have generally been got rid of in seven months, whereas owing to the active operations of the Government this one has lasted eleven years?
§ MR. ALDEN (Middlesex, Tottenham)Is it not the case that the severity of the plague is greater in Bombay Presidency than anywhere else, and does not that district suffer from a continual famine?
§ MR. BUCHANANAs I have said, I do not think the connection between plague and famine can be substantiated. The figures point the other way. The plague has been most prevalent in the Punjab. The figures show perfectly clearly that the plague does not follow in the footsteps of famine.
§ *SIR W. J. COLLINS (St. Pancras, W.)Are not the chief factors in the reduction of plague in India the destruction of vermin and improved sanitation?
§ MR. BUCHANANYes, Sir.