8. Mr. PRICEasked the Minister of Health whether in view of the serious outbreak of typhoid fever in Denby Dale and Mahon, Yorks, he will order a public inquiry?
§ The MINISTER of HEALTH (Sir Hilton Young)A specially qualified medical officer of my Department has been investigating these outbreaks on the spot since I was first informed of them, and he remains in close touch with the local authorities concerned. I am advised that in both places the infection was water-borne, and that the source of the infection has been traced and eliminated. Steps to procure a water supply free from risk of contamination are under consideration by the respective local authorities in close consultation with my Department. After full investigation, an official report on the outbreaks will be published, which will be brought specially to the notice of the authorities concerned. These measures will best serve the purpose indicated in the question, and I do not think that the procedure of a public inquiry would add anything useful.
Mr. PRICEWhen the report is published, will it be furnished to other local authorities to enable preventive measures to be adopted in other districts?
§ Sir H. YOUNGI will certainly consider the suggestion.
§ Sir H. YOUNGThe inquiry in question concerns a particular district. Undoubtedly, if there is cause for inquiry in neighbouring districts, this will put the responsible authorities on their mettle.