HC Deb 27 June 1927 vol 208 cc38-9
61. Mr. GROVES

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the action of the Newport Education Authority in excluding from the Newport secondary school Joan Rogers, a 15 years old girl, on the ground that she is unvaccinated; and whether, in view of the ruling of the Board in the year 1909 and of the action it has taken in other similar eases, he will intervene on behalf of this schoolgirl and secure her re-admission to the school?

Lord E. PERCY

My attention has already been called to this case by my hon. Friend the Member for Newport (Mr. Clarry). I understand that the local authority excluded this girl from school on the advice of the school medical officer acting in conjunction with the borough medical officer of health, owing to the prevalence of smallpox in the area outside the borough in which the girl lives, but that they are prepared to re-admit her to school provided Gat her parents are willing to allow her to live within the borough so long as the epidemic continues. In these circumstances, I do not think that I should be justified in interfering with the action taken by the authority on the recommendation of their competent medical advisers.

Mr. LANSBURY

May I ask whether this action does not really override the Act of Parliament, which enables the parents of a child to decide whether or not it shall be vaccinated?

Lord E. PERCY

It is entirely open to the parents to decide whether a child shall be vaccinated. The law does not enforce any other parent, or those responsible for the children of other parents, to expose other children to the risks.

Mr. LANSBURY

Is it not the law that this child is to be permitted under the conditions that prevail in Newport to attend at this school, and are not the authorities using their power to prevent the child getting the education to which she is entitled? Does not the law allow those who object to vaccination to mix with those who support vaccination?

Lord E. PERCY

As far as I can understand the hon. Member, the answer to all three parts of his question is "No."