§ MR. COGHILL (Stoke-on-Trent)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, whether he can state the total number of cases of smallpox in the Metropolis since the present outbreak; and, whether it is the intention of the Government this session to bring in a Re-Vaccination Bill, in fulfilment of the pledge given by them in the session of 1898.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (MR. GRANT LAWSON,) Yorkshire, N. R., ThirskAccording to the Registrar-General's weekly returns, 2,656 cases of smallpox were notified in the Metropolis between 1st June, 1901, and the 25th January last. With regard to the second paragraph of the question, I cannot hold out any expectation that the Government will introduce a Re-Vaccination Bill during the present session. I am not aware that any pledge was given in 1898 as to the introduction of such a Bill, though the Government promised to consider the matter.
§ MR. COGHILLIs not the present outbreak largely due to the invention of the "conscientious objector"?
§ MR. GRANT LAWSONNo, I think not.
§ SIR JOHN TUKEI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, if he would consider the expediency of adopting in connection with the present outbreak of smallpox in London the methods for procuring more general re-vaccination which were resorted to successfully in Glasgow in the year 1901, involving a house to house visitation of the community divided into manageable areas and the employment of all medical men willing to assist in the matter.
§ MR. GRANT LAWSONIt would be impossible to adopt the Glasgow plan throughout the whole of London at one and the same time, but my right 365 hon. friend has under consideration how far it might be practicable to adopt some such methods in particular areas.