§ MR. CROOKS (Woolwich)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of a man, named Ward, who was summoned at the Thames Police Court for non-compliance with the Vaccination Act, on the 5th April, and to the fact that, after he had produced a doctor's certificate as to the child's unfitness for vaccination, the man was fined, the magistrate deciding against the man because he would not pledge himself to have the child vaccinated when it recovered, and afterwards declined to state a case for the High 1050 Court; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. AKERS-DOUGLAS,) Kent, St. Augustine'sI have inquired into this case and find no ground for action on my part. The offence charged was the failure to have the child vaccinated within six months of his birth. The medical certificate produced did not relate to that period and no exemption had been asked for. The father did not appear in answer to the charge. The magistrate was ready to take a lenient view of the case in accordance with his usual practice if he could have received any assurance of readiness on the part of the defendant to comply with the requirements of the law; but there was no doubt that the offence had been committed and the penalty incurred.
§ MR. CROOKSWill the right hon. Geatleman be good enough to make further inquiry and see if the certificate does not show that the child was suffering from rickets and debility?
§ [No answer was returned.]