§ Mr. Malcolm MacMillanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the steps which he ensures are taken by the local health authorities to decontaminate before reoccupation all houses vacated by persons who have suffered from transmissible diseases.
§ Mr. NobleUnder Section 47 of the Public Health (Scotland) Act, 1897, a local health authority has power to ensure the disinfection of a house or part thereof, and of any articles therein, where it appears to them that this would prevent or check the spread of infectious disease. I have no reason to suppose that local health authorities are not using this power where they think it necessary. Furthermore, Section 51 of the same Act provides for a penalty not exceeding £20 should anyone let a house in which a person has been suffering from an infectious disease, without first having the house, and any contents liable to retain infection, disinfected to the satisfaction of the Medical Officer of Health.