§ Mr. BLACKasked the Under-Secretary for India what is the cause of the heavy mortality from small-pox amongst children under ten years of age in India, namely, about seventy per cent. of the total deaths 1765W from that disease, in view of the fact that about 8,000,000 primary vaccinations are carried out amongst children in India every year?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe explanation which the hon. Member desires may possibly be found in the fact that while the number of births in British India averages about 8½ millions a year, the number of children under one year of age annually vaccinated is less than 4,200,000, and the total number of children between 0 and 6 years annually vaccinated is only 7¼ millions. The unvaccinated infantile population is thus very large. In the five years ending 1909 the number of small-pox deaths of children under the age of ten in India averaged 74,600 a year, the total small-pox deaths of all ages averaging 111,200.
§ Mr. BLACKalso asked the Under-Secretary whether any attempt is made to ascertain the vaccinal condition of the children attacked by and dying from small-pox in India; and, if not, whether he will take steps to endeavour to secure that such a record shall be kept in future and
1766W
COMPARATIVE STATEMENT showing the Actual Average Pay received by Established Officers borne on the undermentioned Classes during the years specified (partly estimated). Class. Average Pay—Weekly. 1885. 1891. 1897. 1903. 1905. 1908–9. 1910. London— s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Sorters (Male) 28 5 32 10 33 10 40 8 45 8 49 7 50 7 Telegraphists, Central Telegraph Office (Male) 28 10 32 4 37 6 40 2 44 10 49 3 50 10 Telegraphists, Central Telegrarph Office (Female) 22 10 23 9 22 5 24 0 25 10 29 0 29 8 Counter Clerks and Telegraphists (Male) 34 5 36 1 39 5 42 6 45 3 48 2 49 0 Counter Clerks and Telegraphists (Female) 21 11 23 6 25 7 26 10 27 8 30 1 31 9 Telephonists* — — — 13 5 15 1 † 19 9 Postmen 25 1 25 1 26 7 29 1 30 0 32 10 33 1 Rest of United Kingdom— Sorting Clerks and Telegraphists (Male) 27 2 28 7 33 1 33 2 35 5 37 9 38 2 Sorting Clerks and Telegraphists (Female) 19 10 19 3 21 0 22 1 23 3 25 9 25 9 Telephonists* — — — 15 9 16 11 † 19 5 Postmen 19 10 22 5 23 5 24 6 25 9 † 27 5 The average pay shown above includes all money allowances except trip allowances and payments for duty on Sundays, Christmas Day, Good Friday and Bank Holidays. It does not include payments for overtime on week days, nor allowances in kind, such as uniform. * In calculating the average pay of Telephonists no distinction has been made between Established and Unestablished Officers. † Not ascertained. the results published in the annual sanitary Reports, especially in those provinces which contain small-pox hospitals?
§ Mr. MONTAGUSo far as is known the answer to the first question is in the negative. In the conditions which exist in India any such attempt would necessarily be restricted to municipal or other similar areas having small-pox hospitals or an efficient medical inspecting agency. The hon. Member's suggestion will be brought to the notice of the Government of India.