§ MR. F. A. CHANNING (Northampton, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of George Schuff, of King's Congleton, Warwickshire, upon whom an order to have his child vaccinated was made on 30th December by the Alcester Magistrates; whether he is aware that the parents had previously had a certificate from the public vaccinator that the child was unfit for vaccination owing to skin disease, and that the child was shown in court to be still suffering from skin disease; whether the magistrates acted legally in declining to accept this as a reasonable excuse, or to adjourn the case on the request of the parents till another certificate could be produced, and whether he will cause inquiry to be made into the matter?
§ SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEYIf the case to which the hon. Member refers is that of George Shuck, of King's Coughton, I am informed that no evidence was given, at the hearing of the case, of any certificate of unfitness having been obtained from the public vaccinator, and that no request was made by the parents for an adjournment. I am not aware of the condition of the child at the time of the hearing, but am informed that the magistrates told the parents that if it were unfit for vaccination at the next public examination the medical officer could give a postponement certificate. The vaccination officer states that no such certificate has ever been sent him in this case.