§ 35 and 36. Mr. Milneasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will widen the terms of reference of the committee of inquiry into the Aberdeen typhoid outbreak to include an examination of the dispersal and disposal of foodstuffs in dock and warehouse, and their possible association with the outbreak;
(2) if he will add to the committee of inquiry into the Aberdeen typhoid outbreak a person or persons experienced in food manufacturing and processing, the shipping and storage of foodstuffs, and its dispersal and disposal in docks and warehouses.
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§ Mr. NobleI do not think either of these proposals is necessary. The commitee's remit already enables them to inquire into the dispersal and disposal of foodstuffs to the extent that they are relevant to the cause of the Aberdeen outbreak, and I am satisfied that the members have the knowledge and experience required for their task.
§ 39. Mr. Carmichaelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will have discussions with the broadcasting authorities with a view to having special programmes broadcast on both available television channels and radio in the Aberdeen area to help the children whose schools have been closed due to the present emergency.
§ Mr. NobleThe Broadcasting Authorities have already been very helpful in putting on additional educational programmes and issuing daily bulletins which draw attention to all educational programmes available.
§ Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give particulars of the representations he has received from business firms and their workers and from shipowners and ship-workers of the loss and damage inflicted on them by the typhoid epidemic in Aberdeen; and what steps, as a result, he has taken, and plans to take, to provide them with compensation.
§ Mr. NobleI have received a number of letters expressing concern about losses suffered by the hotel and tourist industry. I am considering these representations, but I have no statutory power to provide compensation.
§ Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many typhoid epidemics there have been in Aberdeen; when they occurred; and how many persons were affected compared with the number affected in the present outbreak.
§ Mr. NobleIn the last 30 years there has been only one other major outbreak of typhoid in Aberdeen. This was in 1935; there were 35 confirmed cases and four deaths. In the present epidemic there were up to yesterday 398 confirmed 177W cases; so far there has been only one death, and that was not solely attributable to typhoid.
§ Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the cost of paying compensation to the businesses, shops, hotels, boarding houses, shipowners, crews and other workers who have suffered loss by the typhoid epidemic in Aberdeen.