87. Mr. T. THOMSONasked the Minister of Health if he will give the particulars which indicate that the percentage of cases of small-pox has increased 1579 with the reduction in the number of vaccinations which have fallen from 85.6 of births in 1872–81 to 43.4 in 1912–21?
§ Lord E. PERCYAs the answer involves a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ As my right hon. Friend informed the hon. Member on the 4th instant, particulars as to the total number of cases of small-pox in England and Wales are not available for any year prior to 1911, and it is not, therefore, possible to give the desired information for the periods mentioned in the question. The number of cases of small-pox during each of the years 1911 to 1922, and the percentage of vaccinations to births in each of those years are given in the following table:
| Year. | Cases of Small-pox. | Percentage of Vaccinations to Births. |
| 1911 | 289 | 52.3 |
| 1912 | 121 | 50.1 |
| 1913 | 113 | 46.5 |
| 1914 | 65 | 44.6 |
| 1915 | 93 | 45.5 |
| 1916 | 159 | 44.7 |
| 1917 | 7 | 42.3 |
| 1918 | 63 | 41.5 |
| 1919 | 311 | 40.6 |
| 1920 | 280 | 39.5 |
| 1921 | 336 | 38.3 |
| 1922 | 973 | Not yet available. |
§ Viscount CURZONIs it not a fact that a child has died from confluent small-pox at Gloucester, and that a grave responsibility will rest on those who, like the hon. Member, keep on putting these questions.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe question only asked for figures, and any hon. Member is entitled to ask for information.