§ 23. Dr. Summerskillasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that a woman informed against under Regulation 33B was imprisoned for failing to complete treatment, he will consider penalising the men who informed against her for any default in treatment?
§ The Minister of Health (Mr. Ernest Brown)No, Sir. There is no power under the Regulation to deal with the persons indicated in the latter part of the Question.
§ Dr. SummerskillCan the Minister justify the position in which an individual informed against under Regulation 33B can be sent to prison but the two informers, people suffering from the disease and liable to transmit it to innocent people, are not penalised in any way?
§ Mr. BrownThey themselves are undergoing treatment, and the House fully understood that when the Regulation was made.
§ Dr. SummerskillIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that those individuals can default in their treatment and not be penalised?
§ Mr. BrownThe answer is that I am watching the operation of the Regulation to find out whether the hon. Lady's supposition is actually working out in fact.
§ Dr. SummerskillWhile the right hon. Gentleman is watching the operation of the Regulation, is he aware that these people who are defaulting in treatment are transmitting this disease to their innocent wives?
§ Mr. BrownI am aware that the hon. Lady makes these assumptions, but she does not give us the facts.