HC Deb 05 March 1924 vol 170 cc1392-3
87. Mr. LEE

asked the Minister of Health whether he will direct medical officers of health to take note of the number of rooms in each house from which cases of small-pox are reported, with the number of people living therein, with a view to ascertaining whether, and, if so, to what extent, overcrowding has any bearing upon the prevalence of the disease?

Mr. WHEATLEY

Medical Officers of Health have already been asked to attempt to measure the influence of domestic overcrowding upon the incidence of notified diseases, and this is their usual practice. I will consider whether it is practicable to do anything further in regard to small-pox.

88. Mr. LEE

asked the Minister of Health what form of refuse disposal exists in Albert village, Leicestershire, where cases of small-pox have been recently reported; and whether he has received any report as to the sanitary arrangements in operation in the place?

Mr. WHEATLEY

I have not received any report as to the sanitary arrangements referred to, but I will make inquiries.

Mr. BLACK

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that out of 48 cases of small- pox in the Albert village, Leicester, the disease being imported from Derbyshire, only three remained last Saturday, and that there has not been a single case reported for the last three weeks?

Mr. SPEAKER

How can the Minister be expected to answer such a question without notice?