§ Mr. P. MEEHANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that anti-vaccinists in Scotland were granted an exemption Act in 1907, when the number of unvaccinated children in Scotland was much fewer than in Ireland to-day and when the number of defaulters in Scotland and of parish authorities desiring an alteration in the vaccination law was much less than in Ireland at the present time.; and whether, in view of the effect upon Irish anti-vaccinists of the present state of the law, he will introduce legislation to remedy the grievances of objectors?
§ Mr. DUKEThe Act of 1907 to which the hon. Member refers was passed to amend the law with respect to vaccination in Scotland by authorising a statutory declaration of conscientious objection. The Irish Local Government Board inform me that they have no statistics with regard to the number of unvaccinated children in Scotland or the number of defaulters. As to the rest of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made in Debate on the 7th August, 1917, and to the written answer I gave to a question by the hon. Baronet the Member for North Wexford on the 29th October.