HC Deb 01 November 1911 vol 30 cc971-2W
Mr. RUPERT GWYNNE

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, after the lapse of ten years, summonses against defaulters under the Vaccination Acts have been obtained at Eastbourne by the vaccination officer through the pressure of the Local Government Board Inspector; whether there has been any case of small-pox in the town during that period; what is the total number of children in the town legally exempted from vaccination under the Vaccination Acts, 1898 and 1907; and what special circumstances, if any, prompted the action of the Board?

Mr. BURNS

It is the duty of the vaccination officer to take proceedings to secure compliance with the Vaccination Acts, and the Board's inspector, at his last inspection of vaccination in this union, reminded him of this duty. The Board understand that the vaccination officer has recently obtained summonses against certain persons who have not complied with the Acts. During the last ten years there have been two cases of small-pox in Eastbourne. The total number of children in the Eastbourne Union who have been legally exempted from vaccination from the time of the passing of the Vaccination Act, 1898, to the 31st July, 1911, is, according to the Board's records, 5,640. Some five-sixths of these have been children residing in the town of Eastbourne.