§ Mr. GROVESasked the Minister of Health to what influence his medical officials attribute the almost complete freedom from variola major which this country has enjoyed during the past 30 1129W years, particularly in view of the fact that during the same period approximately only half the infants born have been vaccinated?
§ Sir K. WOODComplete knowledge of all the influences affecting the prevalence and spread of variola major is still lacking, but I am advised that two important factors are the improvement in the supervision of contacts and a more general appreciation by them of the value of vaccination as a protective measure.
§ Mr. GROVESasked the Minister of Health whether the official from Somerset House who registers the births of children born in public institutions has been instructed to hand the parents the notice of the requirements of the Vaccination Acts; whether he is aware that mothers at St. Stephen's Hospital, Fulham Road, who gave this official particulars of their infants born at that hospital were not handed the vaccination paper; and whether he will see that in future mothers confined in lying-in hospitals or public institutions are given this document?
§ Sir K. WOODUnder the Vaccination Acts, Registrars of Births are in all eases required to deliver to the parent, or to the person having the custody of the child, or to the informant of the birth for delivery to such parent or person, a notice of requirement of vaccination. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative, and the inquiries which I have made do not support the suggestion made in this part of the question. I do not think it necessary for me to take any such special action as is suggested by the hon. Member.