§ Mr. Leachasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children died from diphtheria in Scotland in 1941; and what were their ages?
Mr. JohnstonThe total number of children under the age of 15 registered in Scotland in 1941 as having died from diphtheria was 466. Of this total 16 were under a year old, 265 were over one and under five years, 150 over five and under ten, and 35 over ten and under fifteen. Death certificates, on which registration particulars are based, do not distinguish between immunised and unimmunised children. The figure of 419 deaths given in answer to a Question on 5th May was based on special returns from medical 1267W officers of health dealing with cases where they had information on this point, and I am inquiring further about the cases not covered by these returns.