§ 5. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the Departmental Committee of Inquiry appointed by the previous administration to inquire into the typhoid outbreak in Aberdeen in 1964 has produced a Report, Cmnd. 2542, which has exceeded its terms of reference by expressing opinions without evidence to support them, and in particular by attacking Dr. Ian MacQueen, the Medical Officer of Health of Aberdeen, who succeeded in bringing the typhoid epidemic to an end; and if he will now appoint another Committee presided over by a High Court judge to review that problem and report upon it.
§ Mr. RossI do not accept that the Milne Report attacked Dr. MacQueen. It praised the speed and efficiency with which he and his staff tackled the outbreak, but came to a conclusion on the medical factors involved in the spread of the disease which differed from Dr. MacQueen's own assessment. From this followed the Report's criticisms concerning publicity, which were intended as guidance in future outbreaks. The Committee performed its task very thoroughly and there is no justification for a further inquiry.
§ Mr. HughesDoes my right hon. Friend realise that so much time has passed since I first tabled the Question, during which so many tributes have 1163 been paid to Dr. MacQueen and his staff for their very successful work on that occasion, that I no longer press the Question? However, does he realise that in future cases of this kind the chairman of such a committee should be a Scottish High Court judge and not a member of the Civil Service presiding over an inquiry into his own Department, as was so in this case?
§ Mr. RossMy hon. and learned Friend should appreciate that one of the reasons why the Report was so well received and accepted as valuable was the services of that gentleman. He did a first-class job. It would be unfair to suggest that there was any bias in the matter.