§ Mr. R. McNEILLasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the proposal to convert the Canadian camp at Westenhanger, Kent, into a hospital for venereal disease is causing indignation in the district; whether he is aware that the proposed site is in close proximity to a station on the main line of the South-Eastern and Chatham Railway, adjoins two main roads, and is in the neighbourhood of a large aerodrome and several villages in a closely populated rural area; whether he is aware that, except at certain stages of venereal disease, patients are not confined to hospital wards, and that it will consequently be impossible to prevent men in a contagious condition from mixing with the rural population and thus endangering a spread of the disease in such a situation as that of the proposed hospital; and whether, in view of the further objection on moral grounds to the presence of a venereal hospital so situated, he will take steps to procure the abandonment of the proposal and to select a more isolated position for the purpose?
§ Mr. FORSTERThis project is at present in abeyance. Objection is usually raised to the location of this class of hospital, but I would remind my hon.1014W Friend that it is necessary to make provision for them, and accommodation in suitable buildings is rarely available in isolated positions.