§ 14. Mr. Manuelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will bring in regulations for the notification and treatment of rheumatism in all local health authority areas.
§ Mr. MaclayRegulations can do no more than require the notification of diseases to the local health authorities. They could secure no useful purpose in connection with the treatment of persons suffering from rheumatism generally.
§ Mr. ManuelIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that he has made some very slighting remarks about England, but that 14 local authorities have been designated in England in respect of the notification and treatment of acute rheumatism arising in children under the age of 16? Is not the Minister aware that the incidence of this disease is much larger in Scotland? If the Minister of Health, who specified these areas by way of regulations, feels that this work should be carried out in England, does not the Minister think that Scotland has just as much claim to participate in the treatment of rheumatism?
§ Mr. MaclayThe hon. Member may have misunderstood my reply. The notification in relation to affected persons under the age of 16 has been made compulsory in certain areas of England and Wales in order to provide information on the incidence of this rather special form of the disease, which will assist the work of the Rheumatic Fever Committee, which is studying it. I have not received any suggestion that this work should be carried out in Scotland, but if I do I shall consider it.