9. Mr. CHANCELLORasked the Undersecretary of State for War whether refusal of vaccination by any soldier is a military crime; whether any officer is authorised to inflict punishment of any kind for such refusal; and whether the fact of a man who joined when vaccination was compulsory, having assented reluctantly then, alters his legal position now that vaccination is no longer subject to legal compulsion in the Army?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONRefusal by a soldier to be vaccinated is not an offence punishable under the Army Act. No officer is authorised to inflict punishment for such refusal. Soldiers voluntarily enlisted who, at the time of their enlistment, agreed in their attestation papers to be vaccinated; cannot be punished under the Army Act for refusing to be vaccinated.
10. Mr. CHANCELLORasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether men in the Army Service Corps at Grove Park, Lee, were required to undergo vaccination towards the end of 1917, although many of them were considerably over forty years of age and had served in France for considerable periods without the matter being raised; whether threats of mobilisation were used against men who objected; whether the reaction in a number of cases was so severe and so many men were excused from duty through the effects of vaccination that the operation was postponed for the remainder of the men; and whether he will make it plain to the medical officers and others concerned that vaccination is an entirely voluntary practice?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONInquiries are being made, and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result as soon as possible.