§ MR. J. W. TAYLOR (Durham, Chester-le-Street)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Homo Department if his 139 attention has been called to the action of the magistrates at Chester-le-Street, who, on 3rd July, refused to grant to Mr. Robert Ratcliffe, of Beamish, a vaccination order for his child, although he had stated that he had a conscientious objection to vaccination; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter.
I beg also to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the action of the magistrates at Chester-le-Street who, on 17th July, refused to grant a vaccination exemption order to Henry Farrer, of Edmondsley, Durham; whether the applicant was questioned at length by the chairman of the bench as to why the exemption was sought for, and, after stating his objections, was informed that he had not complied with the law, and that the bench refused to state in what particulars the applicant had failed to comply with the Act; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter.
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Gladstone, Leeds, W.)I will answer these two Questions together. I have made inquiries into these cases, but I find that both of the applicants mentioned failed to satisfy the justices that they conscientiously believed that vaccination would be prejudicial to the health of the children in question. I regret that I have no power to take any action in the matter. The proper remedy for such cases lies, as I have often said before, in the passing of the Vaccination Bill which is now before the House.