53. Mr. CHANCELLORasked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in cases where exemption from vaccination is granted for a child to the mother in the absence of the father on service in the Army, the father remains liable to penalties on his return home; whether his attention has been called to cases in which vaccination officers have threatened soldiers' wives with such penalties against their husbands; and what steps he will take to deter the authorities from using this kind of pressure on the wives of absentee soldiers who desire to keep their children's blood untainted?
§ Mr. LONGMy Department has sent a circular letter to all vaccination officers impressing on them that it is their duty to accept, as valid, declarations made by the mother of a child in the father's 2061 absence from home on naval or military service. In the case to which the hon. Member has drawn my attention the notices were issued by a temporary vaccination officer, and I have directed that the form of notice shall be amended.