§ 51. Dr. Segalasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many new cases of tuberculosis have been notified in the city of Vienna during each of the last six months; and what is the institutional accommodation available for them.
§ Mr. J. HyndThere were 491 new cases in April, 481 in May, 586 in June, 369 in July, 382 in August and 335 in September. The number of beds at present available for tuberculosis cases in Vienna is 2,500.
§ Dr. SegalIn view of the probable increase in the tuberculosis rate in Vienna during the coming winter, would the Minister say what steps are being taken to increase the available accommodation?
§ Mr. HyndI am not sure that the problem is shortage of accommodation. The total number of beds in Vienna is 2,500, and there are over 5,500 beds available in Austria. Calculations would show that there is ample bed accommodation for any contingencies that are likely to arise. The real difficulty is the shortage of trained nurses.
§ Mr. K. LindsayDo I understand that we are responsible for tuberculosis beds, but that we are not responsible for the food of the people in Vienna?
§ Mr. HyndIt is not a question of whether we are responsible for the beds or not, but, as we are in Vienna, we are naturally concerned with answering questions with regard to the situation in Vienna.
§ Mr. NicholsonIs the hon. Gentleman satisfied that the system of notification is complete, or is it the case that not all the cases are notified, and then only the most advanced ones?
§ Mr. HyndThat is another question. I cannot give a categorical answer to it. The system of notification is in the hands of the Austrian authorities, working in close conjunction with the health authorities of the Control Commission.
§ Mr. ScollanIs the Minister satisfied that the Allied Control Commission, in dealing with problems of this character, are going about it in the right fashion, in so far as they do not know what to do about the food rationing, and they are in a bit of a quandary about the incidence of tuberculosis?
§ Mr. HyndI do not know what is the quandary in regard to the increase of tuberculosis. The figures which I have given show a steady decrease since May. There is no quandary, because the number of beds is more than sufficient to deal with the incidence of tuberculosis. So far as the food question is concerned, I would point out that it is the policy of His Majesty's Government to give the Austrian Government maximum freedom of operation, and it is completely in accord with the policy of giving responsibility to U.N.R.R.A. We cannot therefore intervene too far in that direction.