§ Mr. BEAUMONTasked the Minister of Health in which counties there are small-pox hospitals; what provision is made for dealing with small-pox outbreaks in counties which have no such hospitals; and whether it is the policy of the Ministry to encourage county small-pox hospitals as the best and most economical method of dealing with outbreaks?
§ Mr. GREENWOODSmall-pox hospital accommodation has been provided in every county with the exception of two in England and one in Wales. In these three counties arrangements have been made for the treatment of such cases of small-pox as may occur in hospitals situated in adjoining counties. With modern means of transport there are undoubted advantages in providing smallpox hospitals to serve wide areas, and for this purpose it is often convenient that the accommodation should be provided by the county council.
§ Mr. HARRISasked the Minister of Health whether he will issue a report on the recent outbreaks of small-pox; whether he will consider appointing a committee of inquiry into vaccination as a prevention; and whether he is satisfied that none of the cases described as smallpox was really only a form of chicken-pox?
§ Mr. GREENWOODThe annual report of the chief medical officer of my Department which will shortly be published will contain, as in previous years, a section dealing with the incidence of small-pox in this country during the period covered by the report. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on this subject to my hon. Friend the Member for Govan (Mr. Maclean) on 4th July. As regards the last part, there are of course occasional errors in diagnosis, and the information in the possession of my Department is not sufficient to enable me to say that no case of chicken-pox was included amongst the cases notified as small-pox.