§ MR. HOPWOODI beg to ask the Secretary to the Local Government Board whether any, and, if so, what, statutory power is given by the Vaccination Acts to Boards of Guardians, Superintendents of Lunatic Asylums, Governors of Gaols, the Local Government Board, or any other Authority, to compulsorily re-vaccinate paupers temporarily under their control when such paupers do not apply for re-vaccination; and whether the cost of re-vaccinating pauper lunatics who do not apply for re-vaccination can he lawfully charged against the poor rates of the district in which the lunatic asylum, in which they are detained, may happen to be situated?
§ MR. PIERPOINT (Warrington)Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will also inform the House whether he believes that an opinion against vaccination given by a lunatic is of any value?
SIR W. FOSTERThe Vaccination Acts contain no provision as to compulsory re-vaccination. If a pauper lunatic is re-vaccinated by the Public Vaccinator in whose district he is resident, and such re-vaccination is performed in accordance with the provisions of the Vaccination Acts and the Orders as to the duties of Public Vaccinators, the Public Vaccinator 1585 would be entitled to a fee for the operation if successful, and such fee would be payable out of the poor rate. I do not think that the supplementary question requires any reply.
§ MR. HOPWOODDo I understand the hon. Gentleman to say there is no power to compel re-vaccination at all?