§ Mr. TOUCHEasked the President of the Local Government Board if he has received a communication from the guardians of the poor of the parish of St. Mary, Islington, regretting that recent legislation has made the vaccination law practically inoperative, and expressing a hope that the Government will appoint a Committee to inquire into the carrying out of the Clauses of the Act of 1906 relating to conscientious objections; will he say whether it is proposed to take any, and, if so, what, action in the matter; or is he satisfied that the progress of vaccination throughout the country may now be discouraged?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI have received the communication referred to, but, as at present advised, I do not think it necessary to appoint the Committee suggested.
§ Mr. TOUCHEasked the President of the Local Government Board if he could state the number of exemptions from vaccination in each of the three years before the Statutory declaration took the place of an appearance before a magistrate for a certificate; and the number of exemptions in each year subsequently?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe figures are as follows:—1905, 43,341; 1906, 52,391; 1907, 57,675; 1908, 162,799;* 1909, 190,689; 1910, 230,947; 1911, 248,483; 1912, 275,929. The figures for 1913 have not yet been received.
* The Vaccination Act, 1907, substituting a Statutory declaration for a certificate, signed by justices, of conscientious objection, came into operation on 1st January, 1908.