§ Mr. LANSBURYasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that all the three public vaccinators of the Bermondsey Union receive a fee of 6s. for each vaccination they successfully perform, although only one of that number is a teacher of vaccination; whether he is aware that, after complaints as to the cost of vaccination had been investigated by a departmental committee, the Local Government Board issued a Vaccination Order in 1907, placing the minimum fee which guardians might pay for vaccination in London at 2s. 6d. per case; whether the parents of the Bermondsey children are informed that their children are likely to be practised on by medical students; and why the ratepayers of Bermondsey should have to pay for the provision of the instruction of those students in the art of vaccinating?
§ Mr. BURNSI am aware that all the public vaccinators at Bermondsey are paid the same fees. The hon. Member is correct in stating that the minimum fee under the Board's Order is 2s. 6d., but the actual fee to be paid is ordinarily a matter of arrangement between the guardians and the public vaccinator. Vaccinations when clone by medical students are done under the direct personal supervision of the public vaccinator, and in exactly the same way as other vaccinations are done. I am not aware whether the parents of children are informed as suggested in the question, but I have no doubt that the 32 practice at the instructional classes is well-known in the district; moreover, no parents are required to bring the children to the classes; they can, if they wish, have the vaccination performed in their own homes. With regard to the last part of the question, I may say that the ratepayers of Bermondsey incur no charges in respect of the students. The latter pay for their own instruction.