HC Deb 08 July 1903 vol 125 c24
MR. WEIR

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that Mr. J. C. Compton, the presiding magistrate at the Police Court, Stratford, E., recently refused to grant to Charles Crossley, of Byrom Avenue, East Ham, a certificate of exemption from vaccination, notwithstanding the fact that Crossley asserted that he conscientiously believed that vaccination would be prejudicial to the health of the child; and will he have some inquiry made with a view to ascertain why applicants at the Stratford Police Court are unable to obtain certificates of exemption from vaccination.

*THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. AKERS DOUGLAS, Kent, St. Augustine's

I am informed that the application for a certificate of exemption was carefully considered, but that the applicant did not satisfy the Court, as required by the Act, of his conscientious belief that vaccination would be prejudicial to the health of his child. The fact that 159 certificates were granted during the past year at this Court shows that it is not the case that certificates are systematically refused.