§ 70. Mr. GROVESasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the danger of infection to the frequenters of public libraries through the use of books previously handled by persons suffering from infectious ailments, or books having been in homes where infectious ailments have developed; and whether he will consider taking special steps to investigate these possible dangers to public health by calling the attention periodically of local authorities to the need of the utilisation of adequate disinfectants in the public libraries?
§ Sir K. WOODThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, but my right hon. Friend is advised that medical officers of health are fully alive to whatever danger of infection there may be from this source. Special provisions as to the precautions to be taken to prevent the spread of infection through the use of library books are contained in Section 59 of the Public Health Acts Amendment Act, 1907, and that Section may be put in force in any district on the application of the local authority. In the circumstances my right hon. Friend does not consider it necessary to undertake any special investigation or to issue any periodical instructions to local authorities on this matter.