§ 62. Mr. SNOWDENasked the Postmaster-General whether unvaccinated persons are granted annuities on more favourable terms than those who are vaccinated; and, if not, will he explain why this is not done, seeing that his Department assumes, on the recommendation of the National Debt Commissioners, 756 that those who are unvaccinated are more liable to contract small-pox and die from it than are the vaccinated?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEAnnuities are granted on the same terms to vaccinated and unvaccinated persons. An applicant for an annuity is not required to furnish any evidence as regards health.
§ 63. Mr. SNOWDENasked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that many of the principal life insurance offices do not now make any difference in the rates charged on the lives of unvaccinated as compared with vaccinated persons; whether he will state on what date the National Debt Commissioners recommended the differential treatment of unvaccinated persons as compared with the vaccinated under the life insurance scheme of the Post Office; whether he is aware that conscientious objection to vaccination has been recognised by the State since 1898; and whether he is aware that life insurance companies which do not impose restrictions of the character mentioned upon the assured are getting business which would otherwise be done through his Department?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI am aware that there is diversity of practice among the life insurance offices with regard to the acceptance of proposals for life insurance from unvaccinated persons. The question of the acceptance of an unvaccinated person under the life insurance scheme of the Post Office first arose about two years ago.