HC Deb 01 September 1909 vol 10 c344
Mr. LUPTON

asked the right hon. Gentleman if apprentices at Admiralty dockyards are required to be vaccinated before being allowed to start work; whether such apprentices must also be revaccinated; whether in the event of vaccination causing serious indisposition, the apprentices receive full pay; and what provision in the regulations governing Admiralty servants permits the enforcement of this operation?

Mr. McKENNA

Candidates must produce certificates to the satisfaction of the medical officer that they have been re-vaccinated, or they must be re-vaccinated, and must have recovered from re-vaccination before they can be considered eligible for entry into a dockyard.

Mr. LUPTON

Are we to understand that a candidate before entering the dockyard is to be made ill, and then his application will be considered?

Mr. McKENNA

I do not agree with the allegations contained in the supposed facts put forward by my hon. Friend.

Mr. JOHN WARD

Supposing a lad injured his health as a result of vaccination, would he then be prevented from joining the Navy or the dockyard, as the case might be?

Mr. McKENNA

An apprentice must in any case have recovered from any indisposition caused by vaccination before he enters upon work in the dockyard.

Mr. LUPTON

Will the right hon. Gentleman state whether an apprentice is paid for the time during which he is ill?

Mr. McKENNA

He does not enter upon work in the dockyard until he has recovered.