Mr. POINTERasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that Mr. A. Bannerman, of 6, Chancellor Road, Hammersmith, the father of a son born 16th February, 1911, made a declaration under the Vaccination Act, 1907, on 4th May, went to the guardians' offices the following Sunday morning to deliver the form and found the gates locked, and overlooked the fact that the form had to be sent in within a week from the date of signing; whether he is aware that the form reached the vaccination officer on 16th May, this being three months after the birth of the child; that the vaccination officer retained the form and neither informed the father that it was out of order nor served him with Form Q after the child was three months and one week old; and that the father is now threatened with a summons; and whether, seeing that his only offence is that he sent in the form eleven days after instead of within seven days after making the declaration, and that this could have been rectified by his making a fresh declaration had the vaccination officer done his duty, he will give instructions that the man shall not be prosecuted?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Burns)I have been in communication with the guardians with regard to this matter, and have informed them that in my opinion this is a case in which proceedings should not be taken.