§ Mr. W. Brownasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that, following the employment in a temporary capacity in the expense accounts department of the Admiralty at Devonport of a person who was suffering from tuberculosis and who has since died therefrom, other members of the staff who worked in the same office with him have contracted tuberculosis; how many claims for compensation have been received from the staffs affected; that the remainder of the staff are apprehensive that further cases will come to light; and whether he will arrange for urgent action to be taken in respect of the compensation claims received and immediate steps to satisfy the remainder that everything is being done to prevent the spread of the disease among them?
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Mr. AlexanderThis matter has been the subject of careful investigation at H.M. Dockyard, Devonport, and the results are at present under consideration in the Admiralty. No claims for compensation from the staff affected have so far been received, but their position in this respect will receive the most sympathetic examination. Most of the staff in the section affected were pulmographically examined last September and the room concerned was disinfected. My hon. Friend may be assured that the situation is being carefully watched and that all practicable steps are being taken to safeguard the health of the staff.