§ Mr. CHARLES EDWARDSasked the Minister of Health whether the medical officer of health for the Bedwellty area reported nine cases of scarlet fever and one case of diphtheria for the week ending 22nd January, 1921; if so, why were these cases not reported in the weekly summary of returns of certain specified infectious diseases; whether he is aware that for two months Bedwellty has been marked nil in the Report, which is not in agreement with the returns sent in by the medical officer of health; and if he will see that more care is taken in the preparation of these Reports?
§ Dr. ADDISONThe hon. Member is under a misapprehension. The cases in question were not included in the Weekly Summary because the returns of these cases were not received from the medical officer of health in time for their inclusion. The district in question was not, however, marked "nil" in the Summaries, but as "Returns not received." The figures thus omitted from the Weekly Summaries were according to practice, included in the Monthly Supplementary Statements for the periods concerned.