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Parliamentary Intelligence.HOUSE OF LORDS.-

THURSDAY, JUNE 17TH.Census Bill.

THK Census Bill was read a third time.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

TUESDAY, JUNE 15TH.8mall-po.T in Glasgow.

Mr. NEIL MACLEAN asked the Secretary for Scotlandwhether any of the cases removed to hospital as sufferingfrom small-pox during the present outbreak in Glasgow hadbeen vaccinated at any time during the past six months;and what were the ages of the cases, how many were vacci-nated cases, how many unvaccinated, and in how many wasthe question of vaccination doubtful.-Mr. MUNRO (Secretaryfor Scotland) replied: 1. No cases have been removed, tohospital who had been vaccinated within six monthsprevious to the date of contracting infection. Twenty-ninepersons who subsequently developed small-pox were vacci-nated either in their own homes or in the reception housesafter known exposure to infection-that is, between the dateof contracting infection and the development of the disease.In 7 of these cases vaccination failed. In 22, the diseasewas in a modified form, except in the case of a child of2 months, who had been exposed to infection at homefor seven days before discovery and vaccination. 2. 186cases of all ages have been vaccinated in infancy. Themortality among these has been 12 per cent. 168 of thesecases and the whole of the deaths have occurred amongpersons over 16 years of age. 3. In 57 cases who had neverbeen vaccinated the mortality has been 35 per cent., all but6 being under the age of 15. 4. In 3 cases the primaryvaccination was doubtful. One of these, an adult, died.These are included in the 186 vaccinated cases. Of the 186previously vaccinated cases, 1 had been revaccinated in1890, 5 in 1901, 1 in 1906, and 1 in 1916, but the two lattershowed no evidence of successful revaccination. Amongthe group vaccinated in infancy only four were under10 years and were mild and modified cases.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16TH.National Hospitalfor the Paralysed and Epileptic.

Mr. L’EsTRANGE MALONE asked the Minister of Healthwhether he was aware that, owing to the financial position,the National Hospital for the Paralysed and Epileptic inQueen-square, W.C., was closing ; whether he was awarethat many other hospitals in London were in a similar con-dition ; that many of these hospitals were making appealsto charity and displaying such notices as help us to keepopen " ; and whether, in view of the professed objects of theMinistry of Health and the repeated declarations of thePrime Minister and others concerning the new social condi-tions proposed to be introduced by the Coalition Govern-ment, he would consider the desirability of giving imme-diate State aid to such hospitals, which had hitherto reliedon charity, or, alternatively, to nationalise the medicalservices, as had been successfully accomplished in Russiawith considerable benefits to the working classes.-Dr.ADDISON replied: I am aware that the hospital in questionand two other hospitals in London are contemplatingclosing in whole or in part, and the question of givinginterim assistance to hospitals in serious financial difficultiesis under consideration by the King’s Fund. The posi-tion of many other London hospitals gives ground foranxiety, and I am considering what measures can betaken to meet the situation without prejudicing thevoluntary principle and without losing the services ofthe voluntary workers, to whose cooperation I attach thegreatest value. I have never been in favour of nationalisingthe voluntary hospitals, and the information available as tothe sanitary condition of Russia has not led me to modify myviews on this point.-Mr. MALONE : Would not the 3,000,000being spent on tawdry finery by the War Office be betterspent if it were appropriated to the hospitals?-Dr. ADDISON:That does not affect the question of the existence of thevoluntary hospitals.

Tropical Diseases Ilospital, Bath.Mr. WIGNALL asked the First Commissioner of Works

whether he was aware that the delay in the erection of hutsat the Ministry of Pensions Hospital, Bath, for the accom-modation of pensioners suffering from tropical diseases wascausing inconvenience to the medical staff and unnecessarysuffering to the men; whether he was aware that the huts,or sections of them, were delivered months ago ; and whetherhe would take the necessary steps to have the huts erectedwithout delay.-Sir A. MOND (First Commissioner of Works)replied: The huts in question were originally required for

the accommodation of nurses who have since been housedelsewhere. It is now proposed, when funds are available, toutilise the huts for additional ward accommodation.-Mr.WIGNALL : Is the right honourable gentleman aware that allthe arrangements are made for the reception of thesesufferers, and that when the report came up last week com-plaining of the delay in completing the work, a strong resolu-tion was passed ?-Sir A. MoND : I am not aware of thosefacts. All that I know is the Ministry of Pensions havegiven the reply which I have just read.

THURSDAY, JUNE 17TH.Hospital Accommodation for Neurological Cases.

Sir HENRY HARRIS asked the Minister of Pensions whetherhe was aware that there were more than 400 cases of menawaiting in-patient neurological treatment in London andthe region immediately surrounding it; and whether, inview of the very serious results of delay and neglect in suchcases he could state what steps the Ministry had takento provide the additional accommodation required.-Mr.MACPHERSON replied: The number stated is approximatelythe number of cases awaiting treatment for the whole areacovered by London and the eastern and south-easterncounties. Every effort is being made to obtain further hos-pital accommodation. There are many difficulties to over-come, but I hope that additional facilities may be availableat an early date.

War Pensions Bill and Dependents’ Appeals.Mr. HuRD asked the Minister of Pensions whether he had

received representations from local pensions committeesstrongly urging that provision should be made in the WarPensions Bill to give a dependent the same right of appealagainst refusal of pension on the grounds that the man’sdeath was not due to or aggravated by service as was concededto widows and children, and that Section 8 of the WarPensions (Administrative Provisions) Act, 1919, be extendedto dependents; and whether, seeing that this concession,while throwing no undue pressure on the tribunal, wouldmeet cases of considerable hardship which had been broughtto the notice of the council of the association of local warpensions committees, he would say what action he proposedto take in this direction.-Mr. MACPHERSON replied: Theanswer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative.The proposal in the second part of the question will come upfor consideration on the War Pensions Bill, which standsreferred to a Committee. Perhaps my honourable friendwill await the discussion upon it.

Alternative Pensions for Nurses.Mr. LEONARD LYLE asked the Minister of Pensions whether

alternative pensions were allowed to officers and not tonurses ; whether these pensions permitted officers to beplaced in the same financial position as they enjoyed beforethe war, plus an increase ; if they were thereby benefitedmore than by the pensions ordinarily laid down, whilenurses were not allowed to so benefit; and whether, in viewof the feeling amongst nurses generally, he would reconsiderthe distinction with a view to a change being made.-Mr.MACPHERSON: Alternative pensions have not hitherto beenallowed for nurses by the Royal Pension Warrants. Thequestion of extending the benefits of this class of pension tonurses is at present under consideration, but I am not yetin a position to make any announcement.

.Medical Re-examinations for Disability Pensions.Captain CooTE asked the Minister of Pensions whether he

was aware of the distress caused to disabled men by thelong intervals which elapsed between the expiration of aperiod for which a pension was granted and their appear-ance before a medical board for further examination; thatthis distress was intensified by the delay in the re-issueof pension if such was recommended by the medicalboard and subsequently confirmed; and whether he wouldissue instructions that a medical board should give theman in such cases written announcement of their findingupon which he would be able to draw an advanceof pension from his local committee.-Mr. MACPHERSON:It is the practice at present to arrange for medicalre-examination of the men six or eight weeks an advanceof the expiration of the current awards, and in any caseswhere the circumstances are such that a medical re-

examination cannot be arranged in time to prevent aninterruption of the pension arrangements are at once madeto continue the expiring pension. Delay should not there-fore occur. While I do not think that the proposal made bymy honourable and gallant friend in the last part of hisquestion is advisable, I am considering how best to meet anydifficulty which may arise.

The Blind Welfare Committee.Mr. SEXTON asked the Minister of Health whether, in view

of the fact that the committee to consider the prevention ofblindness was not to be composed entirely of experts, hewould arrange for a representative of the National League ofthe Blind to serve on the committee, in view of the

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knowledge as to working-class conditions such repre- sentative could bring to the deliberations of the committee.-Dr. ADDISON replied: I am anxious not to increase thenumber of this committee unnecessarily. Its deliberationswill extend to various kinds of industrial occupations, and itwill no doubt seek the assistance of those competent tospeak as regards the conditions obtaining in these occupa-tions, so far as they come within the scope of the inquiry,and I have already decided to ask a representative of thetrade-unions to serve on the committee.

. Small-pox in Glasgow.Mr. ROBERT YOUNG asked the Secretary for Scotland

whether he would draw the attention of the ScottishMinistry of Health to the fact that recent outbreaks ofsmall-pox in London, Liverpool, and other English townshad been limited to a few persons through the energeticaction of the health officials of those towns ; and whether hewould suggest to the Scottish Board of Health that theyshould make representations to the health officials of thecity of Glasgow to the effect that the method so advan-tageously adopted in English cities should be followed inGlasgow at the present time, and in any future outbreak, inorder that such outbreaks might not spread as the presentoutbreak had been allowed to spread.-Mr. MORISON (LordAdvocate) replied: My right honourable friend is not awarethat the measures taken in English towns for the control ofoutbreaks of small-pox have been more efficient than thosetaken in Glasgow. The Scottish Board of Health have fromthe beginning of the outbreak been in daily touch with thepublic health officials of Glasgow, and are satisfied with themeasures taken to deal with the outbreak and to prevent thefurther spread of the disease later in the season. Adequatearrangements have been made from the start for the hospitalaccommodation of cases, for the isolation of contacts, andfor the free vaccination of the general public.

Employment of Women Before and After Childbirth.Mr. ROBERT RICHARDSON asked the Secretary for the

Home Department if he could state when it was proposedto introduce the Bill to give legislative sanction to the pro-posals regarding the employment of women before and afterchildbirth which were adopted at the Washington Inter-national Labour Conference. - Dr. ADDISON (Minister ofHealth) replied: I have been asked to answer this question.The British Official Representatives at the WashingtonConference refrained from voting on this question. Theextent to which the British Government shall adhere to therecommendations of the Conference is at present under con-sideration. The matters involved largely affect insurancequestions, and they are now being carefully examined.

Medical r’ees m Workmen’s Uornpensat2on cases.Sir HERBERT NIELD asked the Secretary for the Home

Department whether, seeing that the compensation payableunder the Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1906, had beenconsiderably increased, he would reconsider the scale of feesprescribed for, and payable to, medical referees and assessorsappointed by the Secretary of State for services renderedunder the Act, having regard to the fact that such fees, whenprescribed, were upon an exceedingly low scale, the responsi-bility of the work, and especially in view of the presentincreased awards to applicants and the reduced value of thefees, and taking into consideration that the medical fees underthe National Insurance Act had been augmented consequentupon the increased cost of living.-Mr. SHORTT replied:This question will be considered with due regard to all relevant circumstances after the Departmeutal Committee,which has been inquiring into the working of the Workmen’sCompensation Act, has reported.

Threatened Invasion of Zymotic Disease.The House went into Committee on a Vote not exceeding

1,279,379 for expenses in connexion with embassies,missions, and consular establishments abroad and otherexpenditure chargeable to the Consular Vote.Mr. BALFOUR (Lord President of the Council), in the course

of a statement on the League of Nations, referred to theattempt to deal with the threatened invasion of zymoticdisease from the East to the West, especially in Poland.Typhus had raged both in Russia and in Poland, and ourleading medical authorities were seriously alarmed as towhat was going to happen in Central Europe in the comingwinter. They had done their best in the matter, theyhad acted through the Red Cross Societies, and, in addi-tion, they had appealed to the nations forming the Unionto provide such funds as were necessary for staying theplague. The Polish Government by all accounts had spentmoney freely and with great public spirit and skill in thematter, but the common opinion was that their efforts werenot sufficient, and it would be unfair to throw upon them thewhole burden of acting as guardians of the health of theWest without the West doing something to aid them in thisall-important task. According to their experts E2,000,000would be sufficient to slay the evil, and of that sum animmediate expenditure of jE250,000 would be obligatory, or at

all events of the greatest importance, if the best results wereto be got. Their appeal to the nations would be an appeal totheir generosity, and he refused to doubt that when theappeal was made by the League of Nations to its componentmembers it would receive an adequate response.

FRIDAY, JUNE 18TH. _

Financial Position of London Hospital.Mr. A. T. DAVIES asked the Minister of Health whether

his attention had been directed to the financial position ofthe London Hospital ; whether he was aware that LordKnutsford, as chairman of the institution, announced thatthere were only sufficient funds in hand to pay the bills foreight weeks; and whether, in view of the financial straits towhich this and similar institutions were reduced, theMinistry of Health would at once consider the question ofassistance, especially in the poorer districts of the metropolis.- Dr. ADDISON replied: I am fully aware of the position ofthe London Hospital, and I am considering what steps canbe taken to assist this and other hospitals similarly circum-stanced without prejudicing the voluntary principle.

MONDAY, JUNE 21ST.Dentistry Bill. ’

Viscount ELVEDEN asked the Minister of Health whetherit was proposed to introduce legislation this session to carryout the recommendations of the Departmental Committeeon Dentistry which reported in February, 1919.-Dr.ADDISON replied: Yes, Sir. A Bill is now in course ofpreparation.

Cost of the National Insurance Act.Lieutenant-Colonel CROFT asked the Lord Privy Seal if he

could now state what was the total cost of the NationalHealth Insurance Act since its inception ; and what hadbeen the amounts paid for administration and in benefitsrespectively.-Mr. BONAR LAw replied: The total cost ofNational Health Insurance from its inception to Dec. 31st,1919, was (as respects England and Wales) in round figures£162,000,000—namely, contributions of employers andemployed, £119.000,000; Exchequer grants, £43,000,000. Theamounts Daid for administration and benefits were jE21,000,000and £84,000,000 respectively. For Ireland the total cost wasin round figures £7,700,000—namely, contributions ofemployers and employed, £5,200,000; Exchequer grants,£2,500,000. The amounts paid for administration andbenefits were kl,5W,000 and £3,700,000 respectively. I havenot yet received the figures for Scotland.

TUESDAY, JUNE 22ND.Special Schools for Dej’ectives.

Major HILLS asked the President of the Board of Educa-tion if he would tell the House what progress had been madein the provision of special schools for physically defectiveand epileptic children under the Education Act, 1918.-Mr.FISHER replied: On July 31st, 1914, the number of specialschools for physically defective and epileptic children was102. At the present moment it is 171. In addition, theBoard have under consideration upwards of 60 proposalsfrom local education authorities and a few from voluntarybodies for the establishment of special schools, of whichthe greater ’number are open-air schools for physicallydefective children.

Remuneration of Part-time Prison Medical Officers.Captain ELLIOT asked the Secretary of State for the Home

Department if he would state what steps, if any, were beingtaken to improve the remuneration of part-time prisonmedical officers, as these had received neither increase ofsalary nor bonus since the outbreak of the great war.-Mr.SHORTT replied: The Treasury have now sanctioned anincrease of these officers’ remuneration, which, I hope, willprove satisfactory.

URBAN VITAL STATISTICS.

(Week ended June 19th, 1920.)English and Welsh Towns.—In the 96 English and Welsh

towns, with an aggregate civil population estimated atnearly 18 million persons, the annual rate of mortality,which had been 12’8, 11’6, and ll’l in the three precedingweeks, further fell to 10-6 per 1000. In London, witha population of nearly 4 million persons, the annualdeath-rate was 10-0, or 0-6 per 1000 below that recorded inthe previous week, while among the remaining townsthe rates ranged from 4-3 in Ealing, 4-9 in Walthamstow,and 5-4 in Eastbourne, to 16-9 in Blackpool, 17-0 in Carlisle,and 19’0 in Bootle. The principal epidemic diseases caused236 deaths, which corresponded to an annual rate of 0-7 per1000, and comprised 73 from infantile diarrhoea, 64 frommeasles, 46 from diphtheria, 42 from whooping-cough,6 from scarlet fever, and 5 from enteric fever. Measlescaused a death-rate of 1’8 in Leicester and in Wigan, 2’0in Aberdare, and 2’4 in Newport (Mon.). The deaths frominfluenza, which had declined from 216 to 86 in the fivepreceding weeks, further fell to 65, and included 14 in