§ MR. T. ROBINSON (Gloucester)asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether a great number of parents refuse to have their children vaccinated because they believe that vaccination is useless and dangerous; and, whether he proposes to take any steps to put an end to the imposition of cumulative penalties? The hon. Member said he wished to put another Question, which he had not placed on the Paper—namely, whether, having regard to the many persons who had conscientious objections to vaccination, Her Majesty's Government would have the whole matter inquired into, either by a Royal Commission or a Committee of that House?
§ THE PRESIDENT (Mr. RITCHIE) (Tower Hamlets, St. George's)In reply to the last Question, I have to say that the Government cannot consent to any such inquiry. To the Question on the Paper my answer is as follows:—There is no doubt that a certain number of persons object to have their children vaccinated. The views of the Local Government Board on the Question of repeated prosecutions are well known. They were set forth in a letter to the Board of Guardians of the Evesham Union, which was presented to Parliament. I cannot hold out any expectations that the Board will propose legislation with the view of preventing the imposition of cumulative penalties.