§ Mr. J. HUDSONasked the Minister of Health whether he has received any report upon the inadequacy of the accommodation and staffing at the Whitehouse Farm Small-Pox Isolation Hospital, Huddersfield; whether he is satisfied that there is full justification for classifying any large majority of the cases as small-pox cases; whether the local authority or the medical officer of health has recently sought the assistance of, or requested investigation and report by, the Ministry; and whether he has made any recommendation regarding the character of the present outbreak in the Huddersfield area and the necessity of improving and extending the hospital provision?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe answer to the first, third and last parts of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, the diagnosis of the cases is a matter primarily for the notifying medical practitioner, who can consult the medical officer of health in any doubtful case. The responsibility for the measures necessary to control the outbreak rests with the local authority and their medical officer of health.