§ 21. Mr. Sorensenasked the Minister of Health the approximate number of new cases of venereal disease notified and treated during 1943; how many of these were men and women, respectively; whether he has any information showing the estimated percentage of the population that has been afflicted with a venereal disease during the past 10 years; whether the extent of such disease is growing or diminishing; and whether the Regulation issued in recent years respecting notification has had any appreciable effect.
§ Mr. WillinkFigures are not yet available for the year 1943 of the number of new cases of venereal diseases treated at local authority clinics. These diseases are not notifiable. The information asked for in the second and third parts of the Question is therefore not available. The incidence of these diseases has increased since the beginning of the war but the rate of increase has recently diminished. I assume that the last part of the Question refers to Defence Regulation 33B, though this did not require statutory notification. If so, the answer is "Yes, Sir." I would on this point refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by the Parliamentary Secretary in the Debate on the Adjournment on 20th January and, on the general question, to the information and statistics about venereal disease contained in the Summary Report of the Ministry of Health for the year ended 31st March, 1943.
§ Mr. SorensenIf that information does not cover the point I raised in this Question, would it not be advisable to try and secure the information?
§ Mr. WillinkFor the reasons I have given in this answer, the information as asked by my hon. Friend is simply not available.
§ Dr. Edith SummerskillHow can the right hon. and learned Gentleman tell the House that Regulation 33B has had any appreciable effect, in view of the fact that action under the Regulation was taken against only two men and 64 women up to June, 1943?
§ Mr. WillinkThe point raised by the hon. Lady was dealt with by the Parliamentary Secretary on the occasion to which I referred.
§ Dr. SummerskillThe right hon. and learned Gentleman is being asked this Question, and many Members who are here now were not present then, yet he tells the House that the Regulation has had an appreciable effect.
§ Mr. LoganIn order to prevent the spread of this disease in Liverpool, is it possible to put a curfew into operation for young girls who frequent the streets at night?
§ Mr. WillinkThat is not a matter for me.