HC Deb 26 October 1909 vol 12 cc838-9
Mr. LUPTON

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that, acting under the Education (Administrative Provisions) Act, 1907, Dr. Mark Sharman, school medical officer of the Hertfordshire County Council, examined a boy named William Bradley at the Rickmansworth School, and then sent a note, dated 29th September, 1909, to Mrs. Bradley, stating that the boy was unvaccinated, and adding that it was most important that it should be done; if it is in accordance with the rules of the Board of Education that the medical examination of children is to be used for the advocacy of cow-poxing; and, if not, what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

My information on this case is confined to that which my hon. Friend has supplied to me privately. The Board have made no rules to the effect suggested. From the first annual report of the school medical officer on the medical inspection of elementary school children in Hertfordshire the Board learned that, on the cards recording the findings of medical inspection, notes as to the date and extent of vaccination were made. They, therefore, advised the local education authority that "care must be exercised…so that the work of medical inspection may not be prejudiced in the minds of parents who have a conscientious objection to vaccination," and that "the inquiry should not be used as the basis of action under the Vaccination Acts." On 28th September the Board received a letter from the local education authority containing the following statement: "The county council have never contemplated nor do they contemplate that particulars obtained at the medical inspection should be used as the basis of action under the Vaccination Acts." Dr. Sharman, who is not the school medical officer of the county, but one of 16 assistants, appears to have written his note on the following day. I think it may safely be assumed that instructions in accordance with the authority's letter will have been issued subsequently.

Mr. LUPTON

Will the right hon. Gentleman kindly pursue the matter and see those instructions are acted upon?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I have no doubt that, having received this letter from the local education committee, they will act on them.