HC Deb 27 June 1951 vol 489 cc1375-6
52. Mr. John Arbuthnot

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has now considered the Report of the Malaria Conference in Equatorial Africa to which reference was made in the Adjournment Debate of 11th July, 1950; whether he has noted its recommendation 3 (1); and what action he has recommended the Governments of African Colonies to take to implement this recommendation.

The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Cook)

My right hon. Friend has recently received the printed report of this Conference. Its contents are at present being studied and he hopes soon to consult the Governments of African territories regarding the recommendations adopted by the Conference.

A great deal of malaria control work in urban areas is already being undertaken in a large number of British African territories. Control of malaria in rural areas presents a difficult problem, but experiments with insecticides have now been conducted in East African territories over a number of years. The Medical and Insecticide Advisory Committees of the Colonial Office have recently considered the formulation of a further experiment in the control of malaria in a large rural hyperendemic area in East Africa, and these proposals are now being studied in East Africa.

53 and 54. Mr. Arbuthnot

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) to what extent the Malaria Control Organisation in the East African territories under his supervision is suitable and adequately staffed to undertake the training of junior staff for the executive control of malaria in rural areas by the use of residual insecticides

(2) whether any action has been taken or is contemplated to enlarge the scope of the East African Malaria Unit, which is largely financed from colonial development and welfare funds, to constitute a training organisation.

Mr. Cook

My right hon. Friend is at present in communication on these matters with the Chairman of the East Africa High Commission and the Governors of the East African territories, and he hopes to be in a position to make a statement when he has had an opportunity of considering their views.

Mr. Arbuthnot

When is that likely to be? Will it be in a matter of weeks or months?

Mr. Cook

It is difficult to say at this stage.