§ Mr. SUMMERBELLasked the Secretary for War if he can state the number of soldiers that have been discharged from the Army during the 10 years ending 1908 suffering from tubercle of the lung; and the precautions taken by his Department to prevent the spreading of the disease?
§ Mr. HALDANEThe number of men so discharged were as follows: 1889, 224; 1900, 328; 1901, 350; 1902, 334; 1903, 301; 1904, 440; 1905, 333; 1906, 400; 1907, 304; 1908, 272. While in hospital patients suffering from tubercle of the lung are kept apart from other patients and treated generally as cases of infectious disease. On discharge a notification is sent to the medical officer of health in the town or district where the man proposes to reside.
§ Mr. SUMMERBELLMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he does not think it unfair that the Government should place responsibilities of their own upon the municipalities?
§ Mr. HALDANEI am afraid that applies not only to the Army but to every other Department of the State. If the hon. Member raises the question generally it might be a very proper subject for consideration.
§ Mr. SUMMERBELLI am not aware that any other Department of the State sends cases of this kind out.
§ Mr. T. M. HEALYIs there any distinction in the War Office record between the three countries?
§ Mr. HALDANENo distinction.
§ Mr. T. M. HEALYWhat I want to know is whether the figures are kept separately?
§ Mr. HALDANEI am not aware, but could find out if the hon. Member would like to know.
§ Mr. PHILIP SNOWDENDoes the War Office make any provision for the maintenance of these men?
§ Mr. HALDANENo, but every effort is made to get provision made for these men to get them taken into homes, but the War Office has no funds for the purpose of providing for their after-treatment, and if it is done it must be done at an increase of the Army Estimates.
§ Mr. SUMMERBELLWill the right hon. Gentleman say what the efforts consist of?
§ Mr. HALDANEA great number of the men get something done for them; great care is taken of the men as far as the efforts of the officers and medical people are concerned, and every effort is made to get them places.
§ Mr. W. THORNEHow is it, then, that so many of them find their way to the workhouse?
§ Mr. SUMMERBELLasked what number of the 272 soldiers discharged in 1908 suffering from tubercle of the lung were provided with treatment at military hospitals or homes on their discharge; and at whose cost such provision was made?
§ Mr. HALDANEIt is not possible to say how many were provided with such treatment on discharge without reference to the various hospitals. The treatment in military hospitals is confined to temporary retention of a few men as free patients owing to unfitness to travel. The cost of maintenance of such cases in homes is not provided for from Army funds.
§ Mr. SUMMERBELLasked whether any money grant is made to soldiers discharged from the Army suffering from tubercle of the lung in order to enable them to cope with the disease?
§ Mr. HALDANENo special money grant is made to soldiers discharged from the Army suffering from tubercle of the lung.