Mr. David Adams:

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the urgent demand in the Seychelles Islands for the establishment of a venereal disease clinic with full time medical officer to provide free treatment; and whether steps are now being taken to secure the same?

Venereal disease clinics are held weekly at five centres in the Seychelles, where free treatment is available for poor persons. But the scope for an extension of the existing facilities is fully recognised, and the Governor has been in negotiation with the Seychelles Fellowship of Service, which holds certain funds in trust for this purpose, with a view to the establishment of an additional clinic at Victoria. I am inquiring from the Governor how the matter stands and will communicate with my hon. Friend when further information is available.

Mr. Adams:

In view of the very widespread distribution of the disease and the urgency that it has now assumed, will not pressure be brought to bear for the appointment of a full-time medical officer?

The difficulty is to obtain such a person, but the Governor has the matter under consideration.