HC Deb 09 August 1916 vol 85 cc1078-9W
Mr. ANDERSON

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will state the number of exemption declarations made under the Vaccination Act, 1907, for the year 1915?

Mr. LONG

Owing to reduction of staff the compilation of statistics has had to be postponed, and I am not at present in a position to supply the figure desired.

Mr. CHANCELLOR

asked the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been called to a letter signed by a person named T. Wilson, from the union office, Kingston-on-Thames, to wives of absentee soldiers who have obtained the exemption of their children from vaccination, stating that a declaration by the mother will not relieve the father from penalties if he would otherwise have been liable to them, and therefore the penalties will be enforced unless the father makes the declaration; will he say whether a declaration by a mother instead of a father is accepted; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent such terrorism of the soldiers' wives by threats against their husbands?

Mr. LONG

The hon. Member has been good enough to send me the communication referred to in the question. I am making inquiries into the matter, and will let the hon. Member know the result.