§ Mr. Leachasked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what grounds the medical policy of his Department recently has tended to regard diphtheria as the greatest menace to child-life, when for ages one to five years measles, whooping-cough and broncho-pneumonia are far more fatal than diphtheria; whether he is aware that this year whooping-cough has caused many more deaths in the 16 large burghs of Scotland than diphtheria; and whether steps will be taken to combat those diseases which statistics show to be the most deadly?
§ Mr. WestwoodMy right hon. Friend is aware that a large proportion of the deaths of children under five is due to measles, whooping-cough and bronchopneumonia, and medical research into the prevention and cure of these diseases is constantly going on. The reason for the steps recently taken to combat diphtheria by securing the immunisation of as many children as possible is that my right hon. Friend's medical advisers regard the efficacy of that measure as proved beyond reasonable doubt.