HC Deb 10 March 1959 vol 601 cc1078-9
29. Mr. Awbery

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies w hat percentage of people in Hong Kong and Singapore are suffering from tuberculosis; what is the death rate; and, in view of the satisfactory methods of dealing with this disease in the United Kingdom, what steps are being taken to introduce similar remedial measures in the two Colonies.

Mr. J. Amery

The Hong Kong 2 per cent. of adults have the disease in active form. The death rate in 1958 was 83.8 per hundred thousand. In Singapore there is no accurate figure available for the whole population.

Preliminary results of a case-finding programme conducted last year amongst those over fourteen years of age show that, of those X-rayed, the percentage suffering from the disease in its active form varies from 1.1 in the rural area to 4.7 in the City area.

The death rate in 1957 was 51 per hundred thousand. In both places vigorous campaigns are being waged against the disease and in both all proved remedial measures employed in the United Kingdom are already applied.

Mr. Awbery

Is the Minister aware that the incidence of tuberculosis in these two States of Hong Kong and Singapore is the highest in the world, and that it cries aloud for something more to be done than is being done to reduce the incidence of this disease?

Mr. Amery

I agree with the hon. Member that the figures are indeed very grave, but I am sure he will be glad to know that in Hong Kong in 1958 the death rate was the lowest on record. The success of our efforts in Singapore may be measured by the fact that the death rate was 51 per 100,000 in 1957–58, whereas it was 117 per 100,000 in 1950. so that some progress is being made.

Mr. S. Silverman

Can the Under-Secretary say whether there are any separate figures in his analysis of the incidence of tuberculosis for employees in the Hong Kong cotton and textile mills, where the hours of labour and the length of the working week are unconscionably high? May I ask him whether he is aware that labour conditions of this kind are highly conducive to the development of tuberculosis in Hong Kong and to unemployment in Lancashire?

Mr. Amery

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put down a Question.