§ 29. Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEasked the Secretary of State for War what steps are being taken to combat the outbreak of cerebro-spinal meningitis in the Army; whether he is acting in concert with the civil authorities; and what investigations as to the cause of this disease are being made?
§ Mr. SHAWAs regards the first part of the question, the usual precautions have been taken throughout the Army with regard to ventilation and prevention 1939 of overcrowding. Carriers are being searched for and immediate and remote contacts are being watched. In Aldershot, where rather special conditions obtain, special orders have been issued reducing indoor gatherings to a minimum. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the last part, the type of prevalent organism is studied in the laboratory by the Army pathologists, who work in cooperation with the pathologists of the Navy, Air Force and Ministry of Health.
§ 30. Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEasked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the fact that the average percentage of cerebro-spinal meningitis is higher in the Army, than in the civil population; and if the question of the type of barrack-room is being investigated in this connection?
§ Mr. SHAWIn the ease of England and Wales, as shown in the answer given to the hon. and gallant Member on 17th November last, the published figures for the civil population show a smaller ratio a thousand for this disease than is shown for the troops. As regards Scotland the reverse is the case. But I am not sure that the figures are on a strictly comparable basis, and for Scotland, so far as the civil population is concerned, they only apply to two counties and certain large towns. As regards the last part of the question, I am advised that the incidence of the disease is so spread that there are no grounds for connecting it with any particular type of barrack room.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEHaving in view the statement made by the Minister of Health that it is due to overcrowding, will the right hon. Gentleman pursue investigations on the terms of the last part of my question's?
§ Mr. SHAWI can assure the hon. and gallant Gentleman that I have taken his question into consideration, and I will pursue investigations.
§ Major-General Sir ROBERT HUTCHISONWill the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries as to the percentage in each rank which has been affected so as to show whether the sergeants, as compared with privates and corporals, are affected less than those in the more crowded parts of the barracks?
§ Mr. SHAWI am extremely anxious to get all the information possible on these matters, and I will also make inquiries with regard to that particular question.