§ CAPTAIN CHALONER (Wilts, Westbury)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the cost of obtaining exemption under the Vac- 377 cination Act of 1898, both by fees charged and by the demand for the production of birth certificates, which is so high that it makes it almost impassible for a working man to obtain an exemption; and whether he will take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that conscientious objectors shall not be prevented from obtaining the exemptions to which they are entitled under the Act, and free of charge?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENTThe honourable Member for the Loughborough Division of Leicestershire asked me an almost identical question on the 9th February last, and I would refer my honourable and gallant Friend to my answer—a copy of which I have sent him—only adding that I have no power to require these certificates of exemption to be given free of charge.