§ MR. HOPWOODasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If his attention has been called to a case of distraint under the Vaccination Acts, at Bedford, in which, for a fine of 11s. 6d., laid on the 13th March 1882, goods have been seized of the value of eleven guineas, on the 6th September 1882, six months after the case was heard, and while the parents were mourning for the loss by death of the child for the non-vaccination of which the prosecution was instituted; and, if he will make such representations to magistrates, or issue such instructions, as will prevent in future similar proceedings?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT,in reply, said, that he had no particular information as to the details of this case; but he wished to point out to his hon. and learned Friend that he had no power to set aside the decisions of magistrates. He had often stated in that House that he had no power to issue instructions to magistrates which would prevent them from putting the law into execution. If the law were put into execution in a manner which appeared to be harsh, then the Secretary of State had, under limited conditions, the power to interfere with the sentence being carried out; but he had no power to give instructions to magistrates how to exercise their functions.