§ MR. J. M. ROBERTSON (Northumberland, Tyneside)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that Mr. Taplin, of 5, Lancell Street, Church Street, Stoke Newington, the parent of a child born on 2nd September, 1907, tried twice before the child was four months old to get exemption at the North London Police Court, but was refused by the magistrate there on the ground that he had not sufficient reason for an exemption certificate to be granted; whether he will give the local vaccination officer instructions not to prosecute in this particular case, seeing that the parent of the child has twice lost time from his work on purpose to comply with the law then in force; and whether he will introduce a Bill, as soon as possible, protecting from prosecution all those parents who 640 have tried at any time since 12th August, 1898, to get exemption and failed.
§ MR. JOHN BURNSI have no information as to the case referred to. The new Act came into operation on 1st January, and prior to that date a person desiring to obtain exemption from penalties under the Vaccination Act had to satisfy the magistrate to whom application was made that he conscientiously believed that vaccination would be prejudicial to the health of the child. This, as I understand, the applicant in the case in question failed to do. I am afraid I could not undertake to propose legislation for altering the Act of last session in the sense suggested.