§ 13. Mr. WILLIAM THORNEasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that Mrs. T. Kirk- 1852 man, of 38, Monega Road, Forest Gate, E., made statutory declarations before a commissioner for oaths under the Vaccination Act, 1907, for her twin sons before they were four months of age, and forwarded the forms to the vaccination officer for the West Ham union; whether, after the children had become four months old, Mr. Kirkman was notified that be was the proper person to have made the declarations; whether the officer is now threatening legal proceedings for the non-vaccination of the children; and whether instructions can be given to the officer not to issue sommonses?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Burns)I have caused inquiries to be made into this case. The statutory declarations reached the Vaccination Officer on the 9th or the morning of the 10th of October, 1911, and were returned by him without delay and in time to enable them to be properly amended. In my opinion, however, this is not a case in which proceedings should be taken, and I will-convey this opinion to the office.
§ 15. Mr. O'GRADYasked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that E. C. Martin, of Dover, duly made a statutory declaration under the Vaccination Act, 1907, before a justice of the peace and forwarded the form to the vaccination officer before the child attained the ago of four months; whether he is aware that nothing was heard until after the child had attained the age of four months, when the officer sent the public vaccinator to offer to vaccinate the child on the ground that the form had been wrongly filled up and was, therefore, illegal; if so, will steps be taken to prevent any proceedings for default, seeing that the parent has not been apprised in what respect the form was wrongly filled up and that he would have been in time to rectify any error that may have arisen if he had been promptly notified after sending it in?
§ Mr. BURNSI am informed that the vaccination officer did not receive the declaration referred to in the question, and I am in communication with him on the subject.