§ Mr. WILLIAM YOUNGERasked the Lord Advocate if, in view of the small proportion of local authorities which have applied to have pulmonary phthisis included in the list of notifiable diseases, and of the fact that the circular of the Local Government Board of 10th March, 1906, pointed out that a system of notification is essential for the effective application of the Public Health Act to pulmonary phthisis, he will consider the advisability of making the notification of this disease compulsory throughout the country?
§ The LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. Ure)Up to the present seventy-four local authorities representing almost 50 per cent, of the total population of Scotland have ex-tended the provisions of the Infectious Diseases (Notification) Act, 1889, to pulmonary phthisis. The Local Government Board regard the progress made in this direction as very satisfactory. They will continue to urge on local authorities the advisability of extending the Notification Act to phthisis, but they do not think that such a measure as is indicated in the last part of the question is necessary or advisable meantime.
§ Mr. WILLIAM YOUNGERasked, in view of the fact that many local authorities have not yet taken any steps to carry 1315 out the recommendations of the Local Government Board, as suggested in their circulars of 10th March, 1906, and 15th July, 1908, in the latter of which it is stated that the obligation resting on local authorities to deal with pulmonary phthisis has become more imperative, if the right hon. Gentleman will take steps to compel such local authorities to fulfil their obligations towards sufferers from phthisis within their districts?
§ Mr. UREI am informed that the Local Government Board continue to press on local authorities the necessity for action in dealing with this question, and to warn them of their responsibilities in the matter, that in most districts preventive measures of some kind are in operation, and that the Board propose shortly to issue a further circular on the subject.