Dr. V. DAVIESasked the Minister of Health if he has any evidence showing a lessened incidence of venereal disease amongst the civil population of this country; and, if so, has he formed any opinion as to the cause of this diminution?
§ Mr. NEVILLE CHAMBERLAINAs my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, there is no compulsory notification of cases of venereal disease in this country. I am, however, advised that the returns received from the treatment centres indicate that there has been a considerable reduction during the past five years in the incidence of these diseases, and particularly of syphilis, amongst the civilian population. One of the objects of the centres is to render the patients non-infective with a view to preventing the spread of venereal diseases, and I am advised that this part of the work of the centres has contributed specially to the decline in the incidence of these diseases. I may refer also to the fact that the recorded mortality from syphilis, and other conditions due to 1629W syphilis, has fallen considerably since the institution of special measures for the treatment of venereal diseases.