§ 63. Mr. Leachasked the Prime Minister whether he will cause a declaration to be made to remove widespread doubts in the three Fighting Services that any soldier, sailor or airman, man or woman refusing inoculation or vaccination whether for service at home or abroad will not be penalised in any manner whatsoever and that threats now frequently made of stopped or restricted leave, future gratuity or pension refusals or other financial loss, or refusal of medical treatment for illnesses assumed to have arisen through non-inoculation are all unauthorised?
§ The Prime MinisterInoculation is voluntary in all three Services, and I am assured that this is well known. In the Navy, however, in the interests of the health of ships' companies, it is necessary to refuse to those who have not been inoculated permission to land in ports where there may be danger of contracting any of the diseases against which this treatment is aimed. If individuals who refuse to be inoculated have been threatened in any way and if my hon. Friend will forward the particulars to the Mnisters concerned, the facts will be looked into.