§ Sir R. THOMASasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that, 237W during the last hop season in Kent, the sanitary conditions in some areas were unsatisfactory and were marked by out breaks of infectious diseases; and will he inquire into the matter, with a view to the enforcement of existing by-laws and the framing of additional regulations where necessary, in order to avoid a repetition of these conditions next season?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI have been asked to reply. I am aware that in some areas in Kent the sanitary conditions were, during the last hopping season, unsatisfactory. I am not, however, aware of any evidence suggesting that an outbreak of infectious disease238W was attributable to those conditions, and in fact the number of eases of notifiable infectious disease reported from the districts in which imported pickers were employed was not abnormal. I have on more than one occasion impressed upon the local authorities, who are responsible, the necessity of adopting and enforcing by-laws necessary to deal with this matter, and I propose in the near future to address a further communication to those local authorities in whose areas further action is necessary. I may add that by-laws based on the most recent model form are already in force in nearly all the affected districts in this country, and it may be anticipated that conditions will, as a result, improve.