HC Deb 05 July 1888 vol 328 cc405-6
MR. M'LAREN (Cheshire, Crewe)

asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether his attention has been called to the Resolution of the Mile End Board of Guardians, charging Mr. Loane, their vaccination officer, with being drunk while performing his duties, so that the lives and health of several children were risked, and asking the Local Government Board to institute an inquiry into his conduct; whether one child's arm was cut in 10 places by him, and other children were so badly cut that the register was smeared with their blood; whether this is the same Mr. Loane who, two years ago, was charged with drunkenness and neglect while medical officer for Mile End, so that he caused the death of a child named Piper, and whether he was then dismissed from that office; and, whether he will institute an inquiry into all the circumstances of the case?

THE PRESIDENT (Mr. RITCHIE) (Tower Hamlets, St. George's)

The attention of the Local Government Board has been called to the charges against Mr. Loane, as public vaccinator in the hamlet of Mile End, and to the Resolution which has been passed by the Guardians on the subject. The Guardians, as soon as they were made aware of the charges in question suspended Mr. Loane from the performance of his duties, and Mr. Loane has since relinquished his office of public vaccinator. It has not been alleged, in the communications which the Board have received, that the arm of a child was cut in 10 places; but the Board have been informed that the register was smeared with blood. It is the case that Mr. Loane, about two years ago, was charged with drunkenness and neglect of his duty as a Poor Law medical officer, and an inquiry was instituted into those charges. As the result of the inquiry, the charge of intoxication was not established. It appeared, however, that there had been neglect as regards the attendance on a particular child; and, in consequence, Mr. Loane was required to resign his office of medical officer. It is not the practice of the Board to institute an inquiry into charges against a person who has ceased to be under their jurisdiction; but in deference to the wishes which the Guardians have expressed, and in consideration of the gravity of the charges alleged, I have determined to institute an inquiry into the case.