Mr. POINTERasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he had sanctioned the practice which obtains in most of the lying-in wards of workhouses of vaccinating infants within a few days of birth, to secure their vaccination before the mothers leave the wards; and whether, in view of the risk to such young lives which must be associated with this practice, he would issue a circular to boards of guardians recommending the exhibition of notices in the lying-in wards informing mothers that they are not compelled to have their infants vaccinated before they are six months old, and that, if the parents wish to secure exemption from vaccination altogether, they may do so in the manner provided on the paper issued by the registrar when the birth of the child is registered?
§ Mr. BURNSI am not aware that the practice referred to obtains in most workhouses. It has not been sanctioned by me. As my hon. Friend knows, information is given to the parent with respect to the matters mentioned in the latter part of the question by means of the paper issued by the registrar when the birth of the child is registered. I doubt whether anything further is necessary.
Mr. POINTERAm I to understand that due facilities are given to the persons in question to receive that information?