§ 18. Mr. M. MacMillanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the danger to health from the uncontrolled disposal and sale of second-hand clothing; and what action he intends to take to control the disposal of at least the personal clothing and bedding of patients dying in institutions and at their homes of tuberculosis and other infectious diseases.
Commander GalbraithI am informed that, when infectious disease arises, the normal practice is for hospitals and local authorities to advise or arrange for the destruction or disinfection of clothing and bedding so far as they consider necessary to avoid the spread of disease. If the hon. Member has any special case in mind, I shall be glad to make inquiries.
§ Mr. MacMillanIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that he could go into any auction room on almost any day when a sale is taking place in Scotland and find this filthy and poisonous trade going on in infected clothing and bedding belonging to people who have died from tuberculosis and other infectious diseases? Cannot we have some statutory power to control this practice?
Commander GalbraithThe Public Health Act empowers sanitary inspectors to inspect and to disinfect the houses, 238 personal clothing and bedding of persons notified as suffering from infectious diseases, or who are known to have died at home from infectious diseases.
§ Mr. MacMillanIs it not the case that people do dispose of the personal clothing and bedding of people who have died in their homes from infectious diseases; and does the hon. Gentleman not agree that that is a most undesirable practice? Would he not make some effort to take the initiative now? I do not care about what references he may feel inclined to make about previous Governments when replying to supplementary questions.
§ Mr. SpeakerI should like again to renew my frequent appeal to hon. Members to ask short supplementary questions.