§ 13. Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the incidence of tuberculosis amongst naval ratings serving with His Majesty's vessels at sea; and whether he has any information as to the circumstances in which 13 new infections were notified in His Majesty's Ship "Warspite" since the vessel was recommissioned?
Mr. ALEXANDERThe answer to the first part of the question is approximately three per 1,000. In spite of careful investigation, no definite reason has been ascertained to account for the relatively high incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis in "Warspite" during 1929. It can only be assumed that it was due to fortuitious circumstances which is borne out by the fact that in 1930 only one case occurred in this ship.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEWill the right hon. Gentleman see that investigations are proceeded with in order to arrive at some solution of this matter?
Mr. ALEXANDERI think the medical authorities of the Navy have already made all possible investigations. As I have pointed out, these cases seem to have been more or less unavoidable in that particular year. The following year there was only one case in the whole ship.