§ 74. Mr. Liddallasked the Minister of Health whether the figures in his Department confirm the estimate that in England and Wales, during the 33 years ending December, 1937, 107 children under five years of age died of small-pox while 285 died of vaccination; and whether he can say in what circumstances the 285 vaccination deaths were caused?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Mr. Bernays)During the 33 years, 1905–37 inclusive, 118 deaths of children under five in England and Wales were assigned to smallpox. During the same period the deaths of 291 children of the same age group were assigned to vaccinia or causes associated with vaccination. With regard to the last part of the question, all such deaths which come to the knowledge of my Department are investigated and a record kept of the circumstances.
§ Mrs. TateIn view of those figures, is it not high time that compulsory vaccination was done away with?