§ MR. CHANNING (Northamptonshire, E.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the resolutions passed by several Anti-Vaccination Societies, protesting against the character of the Royal Commission on Vaccination as at present constituted, and asking Her Majesty's Government to add to it one or more gentlemen who are avowed opponents of vaccination. such as Dr. Creighton, Mr. C. H. Hopwood, Q.C., Mr. William Tebb, Mr. Alfred Milnes, or Mr. A. R. Wallace; and whether he will make some addition to the Commission to meet the views of those who oppose vaccination?
§ MR. SUMMERS (Huddersfield)I have also to ask whether the attention of the right hon. Gentleman has been called to the dissatisfaction prevailing amongst the opponents of vaccination with the composition of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the working of the Vaccination Acts, as well as with the terms of Reference to the Commission; and whether, under the circumstances, he will advise that the scope of the Reference shall be enlarged, and that one or more members, who possess the confidence of the opponents of vaccination, shall be added to the Commission?
§ * THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. RITCHIE,) Tower Hamlets, St. GeorgesI have received numerous letters and resolutions from various anti-vaccination societies, making representations similar to those mentioned in the first part of the question of the hon. Member for Northamptonshire East; but, although coming from several societies, the letters and resolutions have evidently a common origin. I am of opinion that the terms of Reference and the names of the Com- 303 missioners are such as to secure that full and impartial investigation will take place into the whole subject. Among the names of the Commissioners will be found gentlemen who will, I am satisfied, not fail to secure that the interests and views of the anti-vaccinationists are fully considered. I may point out that, although the gentlemen named in the question are not members of the Commission, it will be quite competent for them to lay their views before the Commissioners as witnesses. The Government have no intention of altering the scope of the Reference or adding to the numbers of the Commission.