§ 37. Mr. Benjamin Smithasked the Minister of Health how many of the nuisances and defects in vessels reported by port medical officers of health in respect of 1937 were remedied at the port of detection?
§ Mr. ElliotAccording to the information contained in the annual reports so 2328 far received of the medical officers of health of the port health and riparian districts in England and Wales for 1937, the defects reported in 9,760 vessels were remedied, but I have no information as to the number in which the defects were remedied at the port of detection.
§ Mr. SmithWill the right hon. Gentleman undertake to see that when a defect is so reported, if it is not carried out in that port, the information shall be passed on so that supervision can be applied?
§ Mr. ElliotI will consider that.
§ 38. Mr. Smithasked the Minister of Health what instructions he has issued under the Public Health Act, 1936, and the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, to medical officers of health and sanitary inspectors of port health districts?
§ Mr. ElliotIt has not yet been necessary to make regulations under either the Public Health Act, 1936, or the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, prescribing the duties of medical officers of health and sanitary inspectors of port health districts. The duties of these officers are at present prescribed in the Sanitary Officers (Outside London) Regulations, 1935, and the Sanitary Officers Order, 1926, respectively.
§ Mr. SmithIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that these men have very onerous duties to perform towards the general public? As an instance, a plague ship might come in and the whole thing circulate throughout London owing to lack of supervision. Will the right hon. Gentleman really look into this matter.
§ Mr. ElliotNo, Sir. The existing regulations have been found to be sufficient for the powers and duties at present possessed by medical officers of health and sanitary inspectors.
§ 39. Mr. Smithasked the Minister of Health whether he will give particulars of the nuisances and defects in vessels re ported by port medical officers of health in respect of the year 1937, showing the number of vessels inspected, the number of British and foreign vessels, respectively, and the number of defects of original construction, structural defects through wear and tear, and cases of dirt, vermin and other conditions prejudicial to health?
§ Mr. ElliotAs the answer involves a number of figures I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the Official Report.
§ Following is the answer:
§ According to the information contained in the annual reports so far received of the medical officers of health of the port health and riparian districts of England and Wales for 1937, and otherwise supplied to me, the following are the particulars desired by the hon. Member
| British Vessels. | Foreign Vessels. | |
| Number of vessels inspected during the year | 66,087 | 29,865 |
| Defects of original construction Structural defects through | 2,148 | 1,845 |
| Wear and tear | 5,630 | 2,020 |
| Dirt, vermin, and other conditions prejudicial to health | 10,578 | 2,747 |
§ Where a vessel was inspected on more than one occasion during the year it is included a corresponding number of times in the above figures.