§ Major Lyonsasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether leprosy is on the increase or decrease among the indigenous population in the African Colonies; whether he is satisfied that the number of segregated educational, agricultural or industrial leper settlements is sufficient; what financial assistance from public funds is being devoted to assisting in stamping out this disease; and whether there is any central body working under his direction in London stimulating research and co-ordinating remedial efforts in this direction?
§ Colonel StanleyIn the absence of recent comprehensive surveys, I cannot give an exact answer to the first and second parts of the Question, but the number of segregated settlements is being steadily increased. Apart from moneys from native administration funds, the sum of £26,027 is provided in the current estimates of the African Colonies for direct expenditure on the treatment of leprosy or as subsidies to bodies engaged on that treatment. I am represented on the Executive and Medical Committees of the British Empire Leprosy Relief Association which is doing most valuable work of the kind mentioned in the last part of the Question.