§ 56. Mr. DUNNICOasked the Minister of Labour, as representing the Ministry of Health, whether he is aware that there is considerable uneasiness in the minds of the public by reason of carelessness on the part of certain authorities whose duty it is to prevent the spread of small-pox; and that, in addition to the ease at Poplar workhouse where a man suffering from this disease was permitted to mingle freely with the other inmates for a fortnight, thereby infecting many other persons, that a well-known school was closed on account of an outbreak of smallpox, but that no steps were taken to trace the contacts or to notify the respective medical officers of the areas in which many of the boys resided; and whether he will take immediate action to safeguard the public against this carelessness and to assure them that the necessary steps to prevent the spread of this disease are being rigidly enforced?
§ Sir M. BARLOWMy right hon. Friend is not aware that there has been any carelessness on the part of the authorities whose duty it is to prevent the spread of small-pox. The school referred to is presumably the school in London which was recently closed because one of the pupils had contracted smallpox at home. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that all requisite steps were 2936 taken by the authorities concerned to trace the contacts of this case and to notify the medical officers of the districts in which the contacts resided.
§ Mr. DUNNICOIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that 82 boys attending this school resided at Ilford, and that no notification whatever was sent to the medical officer of that district, who had to discover these contacts for himself?
§ Sir M. BARLOWI believe there was some question about the letter despatched giving information as to contacts. It was in the post when the inquiry was made.
§ Mr. DUNNICOMay I suggest that the inquiry was made some days after?