§ MR. WOODS (Essex, Walthamstow)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the minimum fees fixed by the Vaccination Order, 1898, press heavily on the local ratepayers at Wigan and other places; and that there was paid in the town of Wigan for the year ending Lady Day. 1898, £516 9s. 5d.; for the year 1899, £433 5s.; for the year 1900, £1,541 7s. 7d.; and whether, in view of these charges, he will consider the whole matter with a view of placing them on a more reasonable basis.
§ MR. CHAPLINWe have not got the figures for 1900 which show the increase in expenditure at Wigan, but the establishment of a system of domiciliary vaccination has necessarily added to the cost of vaccination, as the duties of the officers have in consequence been very consider- 644 ably increased. Moreover, the amount of the fees to some extent depends on the number of successful vaccinations, and I am glad to say that this number has been largely augmented since the Vaccination Act, 1898, came into operation. In the Wigan Union there was an increase of about 60 per cent, in the number of successful vaccinations in 1899 as compared with 1898. I have, however, received other representations on this matter, and I am, as I always have been, willing, to consider whether an alteration should, be made in the minimum fees prescribed by the Vaccination Order; but I think we should have some further experience before determining whether this course ought to be adopted.