§ 59. Mr. SHEPHERDasked the Minister of Health whether he proposes to investigate the practice by which casuals in many casual wards have to await the arrival of the medical officer standing in unheated cells whilst stripped of all clothing?
§ Sir K. WOODMy right hon. Friend has received no complaints on this subject, but, if the hon. Member can supply him with particulars of the cases referred to, he will cause inquiry to be made.
§ 60. Mr. SHEPHERDasked the Minister of Health whether he will make inquiry as to the occupation of casuals detained in casual wards on Sundays?
§ Sir K. WOODMy right hon. Friend has instructed his officers to give particular attention to this matter.
§ Mr. SHEPHERDIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in most casual wards there is nothing whatever for the men to do all day long—that they are locked up in small rooms, and that no provision is made for reading or any occupation whatever; and will he take care that instructions are given that these men are to be suitably occupied on Sundays?
§ Sir K. WOODMy Department have this matter in mind, and, as I have already stated, the officers of the Department have been instructed to give particular attention to it.
§ 61. Mr. SHEPHERDasked the Minister of Health whether in view of the fact that the method most commonly used for the disinfection of the clothing of casuals rapidly destroys the material, he will issue regulations to boards of guardians whereby disinfection will not destroy such clothing?
§ Sir K. WOODMy right hon. Friend is advised that articles of clothing can be repeatedly disinfected without being damaged, though after a time the process may tend to deteriorate the clothing. He is afraid no regulations which he can issue will alter the position in this regard.
§ Mr. SHEPHERDIs the hon. Gentleman aware that there is a system of disinfection whereby no harm is done, and, in view of the very scanty clothing most of these people have, will he see that some system is adpted whereby injury will not be done?
§ Sir K. WOODPerhaps the hon. Member will send me any information that he has.
§ 62. Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTEasked the Minister of Health how many boards of guardians have forwarded to him resolutions in favour of making the cost of the inspection of casuals for small-pox a national charge; and whether he proposes to take any action in this matter?
§ Sir K. WOODThe answer to the first part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question is 36. With regard to the second part, I would refer him to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Norwich on the 5th instant, a copy of which I am forwarding to him.