HC Deb 22 November 1937 vol 329 cc865-6W
Mr. Leach

asked the Postmaster-General, whether, before allowing members of his staff to volunteer for inoculation tests, he considered what would be the position of any person judged to be tubercular as the result of such tests; and has he any statement to make?

Major Tryon

This question was raised by the Staff Associations concerned and they were given an assurance that reports made by the investigators on individuals would not be passed on to the Department.

Mr. Leach

asked the Postmaster-General whether, before allowing girl employés of the Post Office to be asked to volunteer to under inoculation tests, he made any inquiries into the tuberculin to be used in the experiments and, in particular, whether he satisfied himself that it differed from the tuberculin of 25 or 30 years ago, and which has now been discarded for human inoculation, and that it is not the same as is now used for testing cattle?

Major Tryon

Full inquiry was made by the Chief Medical Officer to the Post Office, before the Royal College of Physicians was given permission to ask for volunteers. I understand that the tuberculin used is not the same preparation as that used 25 to 30 years ago, nor is it the same as that now used for testing cattle, but is the International Standard tuberculin of the Medical Research Council.