§ Mr. FINNEYasked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to a resolution passed by the Wolstanton and Burslem Union, Stoke-on-Trent, stating that, taking into account the fact that the Local Government Board is now prepared to, sanction in Poor Law hospitals the treatment of venereal diseases and that persons entering such institutions to undergo such treatment have the power to take their discharge before a cure has been effected, the board of guardians is strongly of opinion that the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Venereal Diseases, and that of the Royal Commission on the Poor Law and Relief of Distress, should be carried into effect, namely, that, subject to certain safeguards against abuse, the public assistance authority should have power to detain cases of venereal disease, when medically certified to be dangerous to others; and if he will indicate the intentions of the Government respecting the same?
§ Mr. HAYES FISHERThis question has been fully considered, but it is not the present intention of the Government to, introduce legislation on the subject. It is felt that compulsory detention would deter many persons from seeking treatment, and hence that it would do more harm than good. It would, moreover, in my opinion, be improper to distinguish between various institutions in this matter.