§ Major COHENasked the Minister of Agriculture what is the number of cases of anthrax in the United Kingdom and the number of fatal cases; the number of cases of anthrax traceable to wool in the United Kingdom and the number of fatal cases; and the number of cases of anthrax in the United Kingdom traceable to East Indian wool and the number of fatal cases?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe numbers of cases of anthrax in human beings reported to the Factory Department as having occurred in factories and work- 3247W shops in Great Britain are as follow the four years 1924–1927:
1927 … … … … 312 1926 … … … … 383 1925 … … … … 459 1924 … … … … 434 Of these, the cases attributed to wool and hair (other than horsehair) are
1927 … … … … 181 1926 … … … … 152 1925 … … … … 254 1924 … … … … 191 The raised figures relate to deaths and are included in the principal figures. Out of the 18 cases notified as due to wool in 1927, the senior medical inspector reports (see page 93 of the Annual Report of the Chief Inspector of Factories for 1927, Cmd. 3144) that in 14 the
— 1925. 1926. Estimated Production. Average Yield per acre. Estimated Production. Average Yield per acre. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. England and Wales … … 3,214,000 6.5 2,763,000 5.5 Scotland … … 995,000 7.0 899,000 6.3 Great Britain … … 4,209,000 6.6 3,662,000 5.7 1927. 1928. England and Wales … … 3,055,000 5.9 3,513,000 7.2 Scotland … … 799,000 5.4 1,032,000 7.2 Great Britain … … 3,854,000 5.8 4,545,000 7.2 In addition it was estimated that the quantity of potatoes grown on allotments in England and Wales was as follows:
… Tons. 1925 … … … … 550,000 1926 … … … … 450,000 1927 … … … … 461,000 1928 … … … … 571,000 These figures do not include the yield of potatoes grown in gardens, the amount of which there is no means of ascertaining, although in the aggregate it represents, no doubt, a substantial addition to the total supply grown on farms and allotments.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONasked the Minister of Agriculture what was the estimated cost
3248Wworkers had been in contact with East Indian wool either alone or blended with other wool. I cannot give figures for Northern Ireland or for cases not arising in premises under the Factory Acts.