36. Mr. DAVID GRENFIELLasked the Minister of Health whether he has been furnished with any further records of the umckaloabo treatment of cases of tuberculosis; and whether he will consider the application of this remedy in a test to be carried out under the supervision of his Department?
Sir H. YOUNGThe answer to both parts of the question is in the negative. I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on his subject to my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton (Sir C. Rawson) on the 20th October.
Mr. GRENFELLIs there any objection to the test being carried out on a 345 selected number of voluntary patients who would undertake themselves to have it carried out, in Poor Law institutions or in sanatoria,?
§ Sir FRANCIS FREMANTLEWill the Minister say how careful it is essential to he as regards patent medicines which are advertised with a view to the profit of the advertisers?
Sir H. YOUNGI can certainly confirm the importance of care in regard to the circumstances to which my hon. Friend has referred. As regards the question of the hon. Member for Gower (Mr. Grenfell), I think, if he will examine the answer to which I have referred him, he will see that no further test would really be justified at the public expense. As regards voluntary tests, there may be no objection, but of course I have no control.
§ Mr. HERBERT WILLIAMSDoes the Minister of Health take the view of the medical profession that anything which has not been invented by the medical profession is no good?
§ 44. Mr. McGOVERNasked the Minister of Health if he is prepared to make special legislative provision for the housing of families who have members suffering from tuberculosis?
Sir H. YOUNGNo, Sir. I am advised that under the Public Health (Tuberculosis) Act, 1921, councils of counties and county boroughs already have power to assist or arrange for the proper housing of such families.
§ Mr. McGOVERNWhile it may be true that they have powers, those powers are not carried into operation; and I would ask the Minister if he could not make it compulsory to rehouse families, such as those living in single apartments with six or seven children, when there is a member of the family suffering from this dread disease?
Sir H. YOUNGMy own information is that full use is made of the power of selection by local authorities for dealing with tuberculous families. If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind to which he would like to call my attention I should be glad to go into the particulars with him.
§ Mr. McGOVERNThank you, I shall do so.