HC Deb 26 May 1943 vol 389 cc1588-9W
Mr. A. Edwards

asked the Minister of Health whether the 8,000 children under five years of age in Northamptonshire, who had been immunised, were immunised in 1941; and, if not, how many had been immunised in the first six months of ' 1941, in the second six months of that year, in the first six months of 194a and in the second six months of that year, respectively?

Mr. E. Brown

The answer to the first part of the Question is "No, Sir." In regard to the second part of the Question I have received half-yearly returns only for the period since January, 1942. The figures for the first and second half-years after that date were approximately 990 and 2,540.

Mr. Edwards

asked the Minister of Health how many children under 15 years of age in the county districts of Northamptonshire were registered as having contracted diphtheria in each six-monthly period from January, 1941, to December, 1942?

Mr. Brown

According to information received from the county medical officer of health, 102 children under 15 in the county districts of Northamptonshire were notified as suffering from diphtheria in the period January, 1941, to December, 1942. To give figures for each of the six-monthly periods referred to would involve calling for a special return involving labour which I do not feel justified imposing on the authorities concerned.

Mr. Edwards

asked the Minister of Health whether his returns received from each of the district medical officers show how many children under five and over five years of age have been immunised; whether these returns cover each half-year from January, 1940; whether they show the exact number of children immunised; and, if not, how the estimates are arrived at?

Mr. Brown

Local authorities are asked for half-yearly returns of the actual numbers of children under five and between five and 15 immunised against diphtheria under the auspices of the authority in the six months concerned. These half-yearly returns began from January, 1942, but were preceded by returns giving composite figures for the period January, 1940, to December, 1941. They do not include children immunised outside the arrangements made by the authority.