§ 34. Mr. PETOasked the President of the Local Government Board if he will state the names of the Poor Law Associations that he is now in communication with relative to the loss of income sustained by vaccination officers in consequence of the operation of the Vaccination Act and Order, 1907; the date that such communication was sent; the date that the National Poor Law Officers' Association, Incorporated, first pointed out to the Local Government Board the loss of income that these officers had suffered; the date that this association asked the Local Government Board to issue an order which in effect would restore the income of these officers to the same which they had formerly received and the reimbursement of the loss that they had then sustained; and what steps he proposes to take to put these officers in receipt of income to enable them to live during the difficult period of the War?
§ Mr. H. LEWISMy right hon. Friend communicated with the Association of Poor Law Unions of England and Wales, and the Union and Rural District Clerks Association on 1st February last. The answers to the third and fourth parts of the question are 12th March, 1909, and 27th May, 1909, respectively. With respect to the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply to his question of the 24th February.
§ Mr. PETOAs six years have now elapsed since this matter was first brought to the attention of the Department does the right hon. Gentleman not think that it was about time that a reasonable settlement was arrived at?
§ Mr. BUTCHERWe have been told constantly that this matter is under consideration, and has been so for six years. When will it be settled?
§ Mr. LEWISThe Local Government Board are waiting for the reports which they hope to receive shortly.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEDoes it mean that the Local Government Board desire to defer consideration of the matter for six years?
§ 35. Mr. PETOasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he can state the date that the Local Government Board received a copy of a resolution passed at a meeting of the Poor Law Unions Association of England and Wales, expressing the opinion that the continued applications by vaccination officers to the guardians to make up the deficiency in income caused by the increasing number of exemption certificates granted was open to considerable objection, and that in their opinion the Vaccination Order, 1898, should be amended so as to provide for a fee to be paid to the officer for registering exemption certificates; and, in view of the communication received from this association, will he urge the Poor Law associations that he is now in communication with for an early reply, so that he can give the matter his attention?
§ Mr. LEWISThe communication referred to was dated 24th September, 1909. With respect to the last part of the question, one of the associations has replied and a reminder has been sent to the other.
§ Mr. PETODoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that the great increase in the cost of living as now existing constitutes an additional reason why this matter should at last receive some sympathetic consideration?
§ Mr. LEWISAs I have already told the hon. Gentleman, the matter is under consideration. My right hon. Friend has undertaken to give it his early consideration, and the hon. Gentleman may count upon it that he will receive a reply one way or another.