MR. KEIR-HARDIEI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board how many Boards of Guardians are at present refraining from putting the compulsory clauses of the Vaccination Act into operation; whether the enforcement of the Act is optional on the part of the Guardians; and whether, pending the decision of the Commission now investigating the subject, he will advise 914 Boards of Guardians to refrain from putting the Act into force?
SIR W. FOSTER(who replied) said: I am unable to state in what number of cases Boards of Guardians are refraining from directing proceedings for the enforcement of the Vaccination Act. It is the duty of the Guardians to give the necessary directions for this purpose, and the appointment of the Royal Commission does not in any way affect their duty in this matter. The Board consider that the law should be enforced, and they cannot therefore advise the Guardians as suggested.
§ MR. CHANNING (Northampton, E.)Do not the Local Government Board in many cases draw the attention of Boards of Guardians to what is called the "Evesham letter," which expressed an opinion that they ought not to prosecute in cases of infringement of the law more than once?