§ Major Asterley Jonesasked the Secretary of State for War what steps he is taking to repatriate men in the Far East who are chronic sufferers from malaria and other diseases; and whether he will ensure that all such men are repatriated as quickly as possible.
§ Mr. LawsonThe decision as to which individuals should be evacuated from the Far East on medical grounds is one which in general is left to the medical authorities on the spot, who alone are in a position to assess all the factors in each case. The disposal of patients suffering from tropical illnesses has been carefully considered from time to time in the War Office and general policy defined. I am advised that the great majority of patients make complete recovery from tropical illness such56W as malaria and bacillary dysentery. Patients are invalided home when suffering from complaints which render continuation of service in the tropics inadvisable.