Written Answers To Questions
Pensions Appeals Tribunals
asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that the hearing of appeals by Pensions Appeals Tribunals is being delayed by the length of time at present taken in preparing a précis of the case submitted to the Tribunal; and whether steps can be taken to expedite the preparation of these précis.
The work of the existing Tribunals is not being handicapped by a shortage of statements submitted by my Department. I am, however, within the limits of available man power, endeavouring to increase the output of these documents, and if I am successful my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor will no doubt consider the practicability of setting up additional Tribunals.
Export Markets (Business Contacts, Facilities)
asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether, since exit permits are being granted to editors of technical journals to visit liberated territories on the Continent, he will increase facilities available to representatives of industrial and commercial undertakings who had extensive business interests in such territories in pre-war days.
My Department is not responsible for sponsoring applications for visits abroad made by members of the Press. As I explained on 10th October, in reply to the Noble Lady the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Viscountess Davidson) my Department has received applications for exit permits from business men who desire to visit the interior zone in France and is doing all that is possible to facilitate such visits. But it should be understood that visits are subject to the grant of a visa by the French authorities.
Public Health
Chief Medical Officer (Broadcast)
asked the Minister of Health why, in the Chief Medical Officer's broadcast on 31st October, no figures for tuberculosis were given; why the only disease for which the number of deaths was given was diphtheria; and whether he will see to it that in future all such speakers shall give the deaths for all zymotic diseases and for tuberculosis and other common diseases so that a proper comparison can be made of the number of deaths caused by the various diseases.
A broadcast is not a suitable occasion for setting out extensive comparative statistics. These can be found in the reports of the Ministry of Health and of the Registrar General. Special reference was made to diphtheria because public co-operation in securing the early protection of children can do much to reduce or eliminate this disease. The answer to the last part of the Question is "No, Sir."
Diphtheria (Inoculation)
asked the Minister of Health whether he will inquire into the death of Gillian Clair Moser, of Whittington, near Lichfield, aged 13 months, at the Children's Hospital, Birmingham, on 18th November, two days after being inoculated against diphtheria, since she was well, except for a cold, when she was inoculated, became seriously ill a few hours afterwards, had an injection the following morning and appeared allergic to the toxoid injected; whether the statement on the death certificate that one cause of death was acute anti-diphtheritic injection referred to the injection of toxoid or to the subsequent injection; and why the death certificate did not record that this baby had been inoculated with toxoid two days before her death.
I am making inquiries about the case to which my hon. Friend refers, and will communicate with him.
Education (Secondary Teachers, Remuneration)
asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that all the representatives upon the Burnham Committee of the Secondary School Teachers' Associations, whose membership includes 80 per cent. of the whole body of secondary school teachers, have recorded their dissatisfaction with the scales proposed by the Burnham Committee for remuneration of secondary school teachers as a teaching career has for many years attracted a progressively diminishing number of candidates; and whether he will review these proposals with special reference to the desirability of attracting university graduates to the teaching profession.
I have seen the communications from the Joint Four Secondary Associations published in the Press recording their dissatisfaction with the scales proposed by the Burnham Committee. As I have already informed the hon. Member, these proposals have not yet been submitted to me by the Committee.
Twin Perambulators
asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the present difficulties in obtaining twin perambulators; and whether any steps can be taken to make a greater quantity of these perambulators available to those members of the public who require them.
Yes, Sir. The difficulty with twin perambulators has been the shortage of leather cloth, but I have now arranged for a special allocation of this material to be made available exclusively for twin prams.