HC Deb 07 July 1931 vol 254 cc1914-5
74. Mr. FREEMAN

asked the Minister of Health whether he is yet able to make a statement as a result of his inquiries into the death of the twin children of Councillor A. A. Furness, of Wigston, near Leicester, following vaccination; and whether he will consider the desirability of arranging for a public inquiry into the whole circumstances of this case?

Miss LAWRENCE

Inquiries which were made locally by a medical officer of my Department during the life of one of these children, taken with the evidence now available from pathological examination of material obtained postmortem in each case, show that these deaths were both caused by post-vaccinal encephalitis, and were comparable to those cases which have been fully studied and described in the recent reports of the Committee on Vaccination. My right hon. Friend does not consider that a public inquiry could advance our knowledge of the circumstances in which this rare complication of vaccination developed, or that any useful purpose would be served by such an inquiry.

Mr. FREEMAN

In view of the fact that vaccination is now discredited—[HON. MEMBERS: "No!"]—by a large majority of the population, would not the holding of an inquiry into this case give the Government an opportunity of justifying a repeal of the compulsory clauses on vaccination?

Miss LAWRENCE

The hon. Member is merely repeating the very important question on the Paper to which I have already given an answer.

Sir K. WOOD

Does not the Parliamentary Secretary propose to make any statement in reply to the allegation which the hon. Member has made in regard to vaccination?

Sir F. HALL

Do the Government subscribe to the statement made by the hon. Member?

Miss LAWRENCE

I do not think that question arises.