HC Deb 29 November 1927 vol 211 cc275-6
76. Sir W. DAVISON

asked the Minister of Health whether having regard to the recent increase in cases of small-pox by reason of the failure of large bodies of the population to protect themselves and their children by means of vaccination, he will take early steps to discontinue the practice of printing' a form of declaration objecting to vaccination on the vaccination form which is handed to the parent when the birth of a child is registered, a practice which often causes misunderstanding and neglect to vaccinate, and will revert to the former practice, which obtained under previous Conservative administrations, of simply printing a notification on the vaccination form that if the parent has a conscientious objection to vaccination he can obtain a form of declaration to that effect from the vaccination officer?

Sir K. WOOD

My right hon. Friend has considered this suggestion but has come to the conclusion that it is not advisable to make any further changes in law or practice until he has had an opportunity of considering the report of the Committee presided over by Sir Humphry Rolleston.

Sir W. DAVISON

In view of the recent serious increase in small-pox, and the fact that every previous Conservative administration has been of opinion that this practice materially caused a failure to vaccinate, will he consider dealing with this matter departmentally?

Sir K. WOOD

I think this report will shortly be available, and my right hon. Friend will consider the suggestion "in the bght of the recommendations.

Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLE

How shortly will this long deferred report be likely to come forth?

Will the hon Gentleman kindly press for it?

Sir K. WOOD

I do not think that it will be very long now.

Mr. KIRKWOOD

Have the Ministry of Health—not this particular Minister, but the Ministry of Health—not found out that small-pox was caused because of insanitary conditions under which people lived, and is it not because these have been largely removed that small-pox is nearly extinct?

Sir K. WOOD

There is no foundation for that statement.

Sir W. DAVISON

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that it was the Socialist Government that last introduced this practice, and that it has previously been altered by every Conservative Government?