§ Sir R. THOMASasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that at the end of last year there were only 183 centres equipped for administering artificial sunlight treatment; and, in view of the fact that 53 per cent. of the children of the nation are authoritatively stated to be suffering from rickets or its effects, will he take steps towards equipping more centres with facilities for artificial sunlight?
§ Sir K. WOODThere are now 237 centres of this kind which have been approved by my Department or the Board of Education for artificial light treatment. The establishment of such centres is primarily a matter for the local authorities, and the figure which I have given shows that steady progress is being3052W made with the provision of these facilities. My right hon. Friend is not aware of the authority for the statement that 53 per cent. of the children of the nation are suffering from rickets or its effects. The figure of 53 per cent. given in the Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer of my Department for 1926 related to a portion of a comparatively small sample of 1,000 children who were specially examined, and it included all children who showed the slightest signs of rickets.