§ MR. LOGAN (Leicester, Harborough)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if he is aware that, despite the unanimous recommendation of the Royal Commission on Vaccination, the vaccination officer of the Uppingham Union is again instituting proceedings against persons who have already been convicted and punished for not having their children vaccinated; and if he will direct such officers in the Uppingham and other Unions to discontinue prosecuting persons who have previously suffered the penalties for the same offence in regard to the same children?
§ MR. H. H. FOWLERThe Local Government Board have no information as to the case referred to. The opinion which the Board have held as to repeated prosecutions was expressed in what is known as the Evesham letter, and they still hold the same view. I am not empowered to give the directions which my hon. Friend suggests.
§ MR. LOGANI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that Ernest Ambrose Adams, residing at Binghurst, in the Harborough Division of Leicestershire, was in October last proceeded against for not having his three children vaccinated, and then paid fines and costs amounting to 30s. or thereabouts; and was on Tuesday the 5th instant again prosecuted before the Uppingham Justices on account of the same offence in regard to the same children, and, although not fined, was again ordered to pay costs amounting to 10s. 6d.; and if, having regard to the unanimous recommendation of the Royal Commission on Vaccination, 455 he will order the costs in this case to be remitted?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. ASQUITH,) Fife, E.As I have frequently been obliged to say in answer to similar questions, I cannot give effect to the recommendation of the Royal Commission until Parliament sees fit to alter the law.