§ 24. Captain DOUGLAS HALLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if the inquiries into the case of cerebral meningitis at the jam factory, Coley, near Reading, then occupied by the School of Technical Training, have now been completed, and with what result; and if he can make any statement regarding the maladministration by the military authorities alleged at the coroner's inquest?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONTwo men have died from cerebro-spinal meningitis. Contacts were carefully segregated until pronounced free from infection. In the case 405 of the man referred to in the question, the seriousness of the illness was not recognised either by the patient himself or by the orderly until the day after he was taken ill. As soon as it was recognised, the medical officer was summoned and arrived within half an hour. Men who report sick are not punished by having extra parades, but a man who is marked "medicine and duty," and who misses a parade by going for medicine, has to make up the lost parade later. The medical staff both of the district and of the command have visited the premises, and the sanitation was found to be very good.
§ Captain HALLHas the hon. Gentleman's attention been drawn to the very serious complaints made at the coroner's inquest against the military authorities?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONMy attention has been drawn by my hon. and gallant Friend, but that is all. I will make further inquiries.