VACCINATION PROSECUTIONS. (Hansard, 22 April 1898)

§ MR. H. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)
I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, whether all prosecutions for non-compliance with the obligations of the Vaccination Act have, until now, been instituted by Boards of Guardians; whether it is intended in future that they shall be instituted by the Medical Officer of Health, with or without the approval of the Board of Guardians, under directions from the Local Government Board; and whether the cost of such prosecutions will be a charge on the rates?

§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. H. CHAPLIN,) Lincolnshire, Sleaford
It has been the practice of the Vaccination Officers to institute proceedings under the Vaccination Acts, either under general or special directions of the Guardians, but I am not prepared to say that it has invariably been the case. There is nothing in these Acts which makes it necessary that the Guardians should give directions for or approve of those proceedings. It is not proposed that the proceedings should be instituted by the Medical Officers of Health, but by the Vaccination Officers, who are under the Statute appointed for the express purpose of prosecuting persons charged with offences against the Vaccination Acts or otherwise enforcing their provisions. The cost of prosecutions will be charged on the rates, as at present.

§ MR. LABOUCHERE
To whom does the right hon. Gentleman refer when he speaks of vaccination officers? Does he mean the medical officers of health?

§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD
No.

§ MR. LABOUCHERE
Who are they?

§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD
The officers appointed for the purpose of executing the Acts.

§ MR. LABOUCHERE
This is a very important question. What officers are appointed for the purposes of the Act?

§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD
Vaccination officers are expressly appointed for the purpose of administering these Acts.

§ MR. LABOUCHERE
Then I will ask the right hon. Gentleman what happens to these officers when they do not fulfil their obligations? Take the case of my own constituency: nobody is vaccinated.

§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD
If the officers refuse to fulfil the duties for which they are appointed then it would be the duty of the Local Government Board to interfere.

§ SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucester, Forest of Dean)
Yes: but what can it do?