HC Deb 01 August 1916 vol 85 cc9-10
8. Mr. ANDERSON

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that numbers of tuberculous persons are being taken into the Army; that in a large number of cases these consumptive soldiers, without value from a military standpoint and an additional burden to the State, are at the same time a source of danger to healthy soldiers; whether his attention has been called to the statement of the Leeds Insurance Committee that out of 110 tuberculous insured persons who enlisted in Leeds during the year they had lost trace of sixty-six, but that out of the remaining forty-four about thirty had had to be discharged, whilst three had died; and whether it is proposed to take any action in this matter?

Mr. FORSTER

I am not aware that considerable numbers of tuberculous persons are being taken into the Army, but I, of course, agree with my hon. Friend that no such persons should be taken. Instructions have been issued to recruiting medical boards to ask each man definitely whether: (a) he has been under treatment in a sanatorium; (d) his name has been notified to the sanitary authorities as suffering from consumption? No man whose answer to either of these questions is in the affirmative will be taken, but it will obviously be necessary to verify his statements. The Local Government Board have also arranged for local tuberculosis officers to supply particulars of all men of military age who are on the tuberculosis registers, and these particulars will be notified to the proper recruiting areas with instructions that such men are not to be accepted for service. The advice of these tuberculosis officers will also be asked for in cases of doubt. As regards the statement referred to in the latter part of the question, the Army Council have at present no information, but they have caused it to be referred for immediate investigation.

Mr. PRINGLE

Can the hon. Gentleman say when this new instruction regarding tuberculous men was given to the medical boards?

Mr. FORSTER

I cannot give the date.

Mr. PRINGLE

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that when I asked him for the instructions to the medical boards this instruction was not included?

Mr. FLAVIN

Can the hon. Gentleman say how the War Office or the medical faculty ascertain whether there is tubercle present in the human form or not?

Mr. FORSTER

There are well-known methods for ascertaining that by suitable and searching medical examination.

Mr. FLAVIN

By what process?