HC Deb 23 October 1952 vol 505 cc1240-1
31. Sir H. Roper

asked the Minister of Health how far experience has shown the effectiveness of the new B.C.G. vaccination in combating tuberculosis; and whether he will take action to offer its protection to children leaving school.

Mr. Iain Macleod

It is too early yet to make a firm assessment of the effectiveness of B.C.G. in this country. As regards children leaving school I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Dr. Stross) on 21st October.

Mr. Snow

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in 1946 a report was submitted to his Ministry by a mission which visited Sweden and which took professional advice on the question of the generalised use of B.C.G.? Is there not public disquiet at the slow rate of experimentation?

Mr. Macleod

I fear that progress appears to be slow, but in Scandinavia medical opinion is by no means unanimous about the effectiveness of B.C.G. and those who advise me in this matter—the Medical Research Council—are not yet satisfied that its full effectiveness has been proved.

Mr. Remnant

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a very considerable body of opinion in this country, including eminent medical opinion, agrees with this vaccine, and will he, in his attempt to make up the leeway on this disease, see that he is not thwarted by any dilatoriness on behalf of the Medical Research Council?

Mr. Macleod

Yes, certainly. It is true that there is a big body of medical opinion which thinks that we should press on faster than we are doing with B.C.G.; but there is also a large body of medical opinion which holds that we should wait until we know fully whether it will be effective.

Dr. Stross

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the percentage of reactors among school leavers is showing an increase and that the school population therefore shows itself to be more susceptible when leaving school now than formerly? Is that not an important factor?

Mr. Macleod

It is a very important factor and is probably the most valuable field of all for experimentation. As the hon. Member knows, the Medical Research Council are, in fact, experimenting in that field now.

Mr. Hastings

Is not there a considerable danger in encouraging people to trust to vaccine instead of hygiene and the laws of nature?