§ 23. Mr. Leachasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that on 28th July, 1938, his predecessor stated, in reply to a Question, that in Edinburgh, out of approximately 27,000 children inoculated against diphtheria since 1924, 140 had suffered from diphtheria and three had died; and, in view of the availability of the figures at that time, can he explain why they are not available to-day with the additional figures for the remainder of 1938, 1939 and 1940?
Mr. JohnstonAs explained in the reply given to my hon. Friend on 4th March, the figures available were approximate only. At my request, however, the medical officer of health for Edinburgh has extracted from his records corresponding figures for the years 1938, 1939 and 1940 which, with my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate in the Official Report. These figures are also approximate, but, as my hon. Friend is aware, complete statistics are now being kept for Edinburgh.
§ Following are the figures:
| — | 1938. | 1939. | 1940. |
| Approximate number of children immunised up to the end of the year. | 31,000 | 33,000 | 34,000 |
| Number of immunised children who contracted diphtheria during the year. | 31 | 23 | 9 |
| Number of fatal cases among these children in the year. | 1 | — | — |