§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for War what steps are taken by his Department to safeguard Service men serving in Malaya from contracting tuberculosis; to what extent British Service men contract it; and how many in the past five years, having served in Malaya, have been discharged from the Army with this disease.
§ Mr. John HareAll normal routine precautions are observed, and particular attention is given to the health of military and civilian food handlers and of any150W Service men such as nursing orderlies who are exposed to special risks.
Separate figures for Malaya are not readily available, but for the Far East as a whole the rate of admission to hospital on account of tuberculosis during the last five years was
Most of those admitted to hospitial were eventually discharged.
Year Admission rate per 1,000 strength 1952 1.0 1953 0.6 1954 0.5 1955 0.6 1956 (equivalent annual ratio based on 10 months) 0.4
§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for War the average length of service served by members of Her Majesty's forces stationed consistently in Malaya.
§ Mr. John HareRegular officers, 2 years 4 months; Regular other ranks, 2 years 2 months; National Service officers, 1 year 1 month; National Service other ranks, 1 year 4 months.