Poliomyelitis (Hansard, 14 July 1958)

12. Mrs. White
asked the Minister of Health what arrangements are made to supply poliomyelitis vaccine to adults travelling to parts of the world where danger of infection is high.

§ Mr. Walker-Smith
There are at present no comprehensive arrangements for this under the National Health Service, but certain classes of travellers are covered by arrangements made by the Foreign Office, Commonwealth Relations Office, Colonial Office and the Service Departments.

Mrs. White
Does not the Minister think that, in view of the very tragic cases which have been brought to his 811 notice in recent months, something much more specific is required? There have been cases in Pakistan, Indonesia and other places where British women have gone without protection and died, sometimes after an illness of only a couple of days. It seems to me that it is quite wrong. Would not the right hon. and learned Gentleman agree that adequate arrangements should be made to protect these people before they go to places where polio is endemic? Does he not think that proper arrangements should be made and publicised to travel agencies and at the air ports?

§ Mr. Walker-Smith
I quite take the hon. Lady's point. We have, as she well knows, approached the question of poliomyelitis vaccinations on a priority basis and have given priority to children of certain specified groups. In that matter, I have acted on the advice of the committee under the chairmanship of Lord Cohen of Birkenhead, and I am prepared to take this point to the committee and take its advice upon it.

§ 30. Mr. Harold Davies
asked the Minister of Health if he is now in a position to make a report on the outbreak of poliomyelitis in the Waterhouses area, near Leek, Staffordshire; and what expert help was sent into the area to cope with the outbreak.

§ Mr. Walker-Smith
Four paralytic and seven non-paralytic cases occurred in this area during the second half of June; there have been no reports of further cases. The medical officer of health concerned has received assistance from the Public Health Laboratory Service and a medical officer of my Department has also visited for consultation.

§ Mr. Davies
While thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask him whether he is aware that already one young lady has died in this area and that the incidence is twelve people to a village population of a few hundred? Is he further aware that as soon as the village school which was affected near Water-houses heard of the outbreak the education authority "whipped in" wooden lavatories? Would the Minister send someone from his Department to see the appalling condition of the sanitation? Will he assure me that he will do his utmost to make grants to the local 812 authority in view of the fact that it is a holiday resort and that every weekend thousands of people pour into the area and that the medical officer of health and the local J.P. are now saying that the River Hamps is contaminated? Will he also—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. These very long supplementary questions—

§ Mr. Davies
I have nearly finished, Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. The Minister should be given a chance to reply. I would point out to the House that the length of supplementary questions is growing tremendously. I receive complaints that we do not get through a sufficient number of Questions. Supplementary questions are now four times as long as they used to be, when we got through a number of Questions.

§ Mr. Davies
On a point of order. I should like your guidance, Mr. Speaker. It is now very difficult to make reports on general practitioners and medical officers of health in cases like this where a member may very easily be accused of defamation in a letter. The only weapon we now have is a string of supplementary questions to protect ourselves.

§ Mr. Speaker
Hon. Members must balance that consideration against fairness to other hon. Members who have Questions on the Order Paper.

§ Mr. Walker-Smith
I appreciate the hon. Gentleman's concern about these cases. The matter of grants is for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government, and the school matters to which he refers are for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education. I am sure that they will take note of what he has said.