§ MR. BROADHURST (Leicester)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the conviction at the Melbourn (Cambridgeshire) Petty Sessions, on the prosecution of the vaccination officer of the Royston Union, under section 29 of the Vaccination Act, 1867, of William Bertram Parrish, the defendant having obtained a certificate of exemption under section 2 of the Vaccination Act, 1898, but which he had failed to deliver to the vaccination officer within seven days of its being granted; and whether he is advised that 33 the mere failure to deliver such certificate to the vaccination officer within the prescribed period renders it null and void; and, if not, whether he will issue instructions to vaccination officers that, where an exemption certificate has been granted and delivered, although such delivery has not been made within the prescribed period, no proceedings should be instituted?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. T. W. RUSSELL,) Tyrone, S.My right honourable Friend has made inquiry as to the case referred to in the Question, and he finds that the certificate of conscientious objection was not delivered to the vaccination officer until 11 days after it had been granted. He is advised that section 2 of the Vaccination Act, 1898, only exempts the parent from liability to penalties under the Vaccination Acts if he delivers the certificate to the vaccination officer within seven days after it has been granted. My right honourable Friend could not undertake to issue any general instructions to the vaccination officers not to take proceedings in cases in which certificates have been delivered after the time prescribed by the Statute.