§ 33. Mr. Bossomasked the Minister of Pensions how many ex-Service men, pensioners of both the first and second world wars, are now in hospitals or sanatoria suffering from tuberculosis; and how many of these have been treated with streptomycin.
§ The Minister of Pensions (Mr. Marquand)About 4,000 ex-Service disablement pensioners of both world wars are at present receiving in-patient treatment for tuberculosis connected with their war service. Streptomycin treatment for tuberculosis is the concern of the Health Departments and I understand that no separate record is kept of the number of war pensioners who have received such treatment.
§ Mr. BossomCould the Minister give an assurance to the House that all patients likely to benefit from this treatment are getting it?
§ Mr. MarquandThat is a question for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, or my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, or both.
§ Mr. BossomCould the Minister consult his right hon. Friends on this matter and try to get some result? These men are suffering, could not he help them?
§ Mr. MarquandI have no reason to suppose for a moment that every possible care is not being taken of these patients.