§ 41. Mr. Gowerasked the Minister of Health if he will introduce legislation to restore compulsory vaccination, subject only to conscience safeguards, which obtained prior to 1948; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PowellNo. Experience before and after the abolition of compulsory vaccination does not suggest that reintroduction of the scheme would secure better results than the present voluntary arrangements.
§ 45. Mr. Ronald Bellasked the Minister of Health what proof of recent vaccination has to be given by a person who is not a resident of the United Kingdom when seeking to enter this country.
§ Mr. PowellNo such proof is normally required if the traveller does not come from an infected area. If he does, the port medical officer has discretion to decide whether special safeguards are required. He may take account of an international certificate of vaccination but is not bound to treat it as conclusive. At present all travellers who have been in Pakistan within the previous fortnight are being physically examined to verify that they have been successfully vaccinated.