Mr. POINTERasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he was aware that it was stated in the Report of the Medical Officer of the Local Government Board for the year 1908 that in the counties of Bedford, Northampton, and Leicester the declarations of conscientious objection to vaccination made under the Act of 1907 had exceeded 50 per cent. of the births; and would he say whether any cases of smallpox had been recorded in those counties during the present year?
§ Mr. BURNSI am aware of the statement referred to. With regard to my hon. Friend's second question I may say that there have been no cases of small-pox this year in forty-six out of the fifty-five registration counties. These forty-six include the three counties mentioned.