§ MR. FULLER (Wiltshire, Westbury)To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that a medical inspector in his Department has visited the Trowbridge and Melksham Union, and has threatened the vaccination officers of that union with dismissal if they do not institute legal proceedings against defaulters under the Vaccination Acts without the consent of the guardians; 1383 and if so, will he state whether the inspector has taken this course in pursuance of instructions from the Local Government Board or of regulations as to his duties, and if the latter, where such regulations are laid down.
(Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) A medical inspector of my Department visited the union and reported to me that both the vaccination officers refused to take proceedings in cases of default under the Vaccination Acts. I am not aware that he threatened them with dismissal. On receipt of the report I wrote to the vaccination officers, pointing out that I could not permit of further delay in their performing their duties in this matter, and I requested to be informed definitely whether they were prepared in future to carry out their duties, including the prosecution of persons in default. The replies of the vaccination officers being unsatisfactory, I have called upon them to resign.