§ 22. Mr. Hannanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what other local authorities propose to carry out mass X-ray anti-tuberculosis campaigns similar to that recently organised in Glasgow.
§ Mr. J. N. BrownePerth has just completed a magnificently successful campaign. A campaign is under way in West Lothian which has so far exceeded expectations. I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of 18 local authorities which propose to carry out campaigns in the next two years.
§ Mr. HannanCan the hon. Gentleman say how many of these local authorities are in areas where there is a high incidence of tuberculosis, and what encouragement will he give to such local authorities to enter into the campaign?
§ Mr. BrowneI can assure the hon. Gentleman that the local authorities in the list have been selected by the Department of Health for Scotland as being those in whose areas the incidence of tuberculosis is greatest.
§ Sir A. Gomme-DuncanIs my hon. Friend aware that the figures for Perth constitute not only a record for the British Isles, but for every city in the world?
§ Following are the names:
§ The town councils of Ayr, Kilmarnock, Port Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Greenock, Rutherglen, Renfrew, Paisley, Coatbridge, Airdrie, Motherwell and Wishaw, Dumbarton, Dundee.
§ The county councils of Fife, Lanark, Midlothian and Dunbarton.
201§ 23. Mr. Hannanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will indicate the percentage of the population who submitted themselves to X-ray examination in the recent anti-tuberculosis campaign in Glasgow; the number of voluntary workers who assisted; and the approximate cost.
§ Mr. J. N. BrowneThe proportion of the adult population in Glasgow examined was 75.7 per cent. This figure of 75.7 per cent. represents 620,491 adults resident in Glasgow and excludes 73,143 persons coming from outside the city and 19,226 children under 15. The number of voluntary workers was about 20,000. No figure of cost is yet available.
§ Mr. HannanMay I ask the Joint Under-Secretary whether he is satisfied that there will be accommodation and nursing staff available to treat the patients who have since been found to be suffering from tuberculosis, and will he take this opportunity of congratulating the Glasgow local authority, its Medical Officer of Health. Dr. Horne, and his staff, and the voluntary workers for their spirit of service, and, above all, the population for their grand sense of citizenship?
§ Mr. BrowneThe answer to the first part of the question is, "Yes, Sir." The answer to the second pan is that I am glad to take this opportunity to express once again to all who were concerned in this great Glasgow campaign the congratulations and thanks of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. While it is still too early to give firm details of the results of the campaign, there can be no doubt that Glasgow has made a striking contribution towards the control of the city's tuberculosis problem.