HC Deb 03 April 1913 vol 51 cc558-9
72. Mr. BENTHAM

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will lay the result of the inquiry which has been made respecting the contracting of small-pox by three revaccinated members of the crew of His Majesty's ship "Conqueror," before the House?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)

I have already communicated the general results of the inquiry in the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend on the 13th ultimo. To these I do not think I can add anything.

73. Mr. BENTHAM

asked whether the demonstration of the uselessness of revaccination in the case of members of the crew of His Majesty's ship "Conqueror" to protect from small-pox will lead to the respecting of the conscientious objections of persons desiring to enter the Service, in accordance with the spirit of the Vaccination Acts, 1898 and 1907?

Dr. MACNAMARA

Three men only out of a complement of over 700 were affected with a modified form of small-pox. As I stated in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for the Blackfriars Division of Glasgow on the 6th of February last, before entry into the Service a man is required to express his willingness to be vaccinated, and I cannot undertake to recommend any relaxation of the Regulations.