§ MR. J. W. LOGAN (Leicester, Harborough)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if it would be possible for a parent to be prosecuted three times on account of each unvaccinated child between the ages of 12 months and 14 years should the Vaccination Bill now before the House become law—namely, first, under section 29 of the 30 and 31 Vic., c. 84; secondly, by means of an application for a magisterial order under section 31 of the same Act; and thirdly, for disobedience of that order; and whether he has considered that the fines and costs in those three prosecutions might amount to the sum of £4 6s. 6d.?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. H. CHAPLIN,) Lincolnshire, SleafordIf the Vaccination Bill becomes law, a parent could only be proceeded against twice for penalties in respect of the same child, once under section 29 of the Act of 1867, and once under section 31 of that Act; but before proceedings could be taken for a penalty under section 31 a justice must, after summoning the parent to appear, direct the child to be vaccinated within a certain time. The maximum penalty in each of the two proceedings would be 20s., but a parent might be required to pay costs, and the amount of such costs, I believe, varies in different districts.
§ MR. LOGANThen am I wrongly informed? Would it not be possible for a parent to be prosecuted the third time for disobedience?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARDI understand the answer I have given is complete.