§ MR. BRANCH (Middlesex, Enfield)To ask the Secretary of state for War whether, in view of the effect upon the health of Alfred Handscombe (late an employee at the Small Arms Factory, Enfield), through vaccination being enforced upon him, he will consent to a similar modification of the rule as agreed to by educational authorities and as recommended to the magistrates by the Home Office.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The action taken by the Education Department in the case of teachers, and the case of Alfred Handscombe, do not appear to afford any sound grounds for an alteration of the decision not to admit men to the ordinance factories unless they consent to be vaccinated. I may point out that the Home Office letter is merely explanatory of the law in regard to vaccination generally.