MR. LUPTOI beg to ask the President of the Board of Education if his attention has been called to the action of Dr. Adams, medical inspector of the St. Stephen's School, St. Margaret's Twickenham, who examined the children for vaccination marks and reported the unvaccinated ones to the vaccination officer; if his attention has been called to the action of the school nurse in calling upon the parents with regard to the vaccination of the children; and if he proposes to take any action to prevent the repetition of this conduct.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (Mr. RUNCIMAN,) DewsburyMy attention has been called to this matter and I have made inquiry into the circumstances of the case, which is receiving my consideration. The Board have never suggested to local education authorities that they should, as part of the work of medical inspection under the Act of 1907, inquire whether school children have or have not been vaccinated. If inquiries are made on this point by any local education authority, the information obtained should be regarded as strictly confidential as between the local education authority and the parents of the children concerned, and as confidential ought not to be communicated to the vaccination officer or public vaccinator. I may add that I strongly deprecate any attempt on the part of local authorities to use the machinery of medical inspection for the purpose of enforcing vaccination. Such action is likely to discredit medical inspection in the eyes of many parents who would otherwise be glad to take advantage of it.