HC Deb 14 February 1929 vol 225 cc648-9
Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLE

I beg to move, in page 106, line 27, at the end, to insert the words: 'Infectious disease' means any of the diseases named in the Infectious Diseases (Notification) Act, 1889, Section 6, and any other diseases added thereto by order of the local authority with the approval or concurrence of the Minister of Health, or any infectious disease made notifiable by Order of the Minister of Health under Section 30 of the Public Health Act, 1875, and the corresponding Section of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891. In Clause 15 there is no definition of infectious disease. It is a Clause which makes an exception in regard to a person suffering from an infectious disease when it becomes a question of recovering a contribution towards the cost of treatment. I maintain that for administrative purposes it is absolutely necessary to have a uniform definition of these excepted diseases. The definition might be diseases which are notifiable by law. I raise this question because1 I think it is perfectly absurd to leave the definition of infectious disease in the air, to be defined by any medical man.

Commander WILLIAMS

I beg to second the Amendment.

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I cannot accept this Amendment, because the words the hon. and gallant Member proposes to insert would exclude venereal disease, which is not a notifiable disease. Infectious diseases are not defined in the Public Health Act, and, therefore, they are not defined in this Act.

It being half-past Seven of the Clock, Mr. SPEAKER proceeded, pursuant to the Order of the House of 12th December, to put forthwith the Question on the Amendment already proposed from, the Chair.

Question, "That those words be there inserted in the Bill," put, and negatived.

Mr. SPEAKER then proceeded successively to put forthwith the Questions on any Amendments moved by the Government of which notice had been given to that part of the Bill to be concluded at half-past Seven of the Clock at this day's Sitting.

Amendment made:

In page 107, line 33, after the word "means," insert the words "subject to the provisions of the last foregoing section."—[Mr. Chamberlain.]

Consequential Amendment made.