§ Mr. JAMES PARKERasked the President of the Local Government Board the number of certificates of declaration of conscientious objection to vaccination that were lodged with vaccination officers during the first six months of 1912; and 444W whether he can state, either accurately or approximately, the number of such certificates lodged during the year 1912?
§ Mr. BURNSThe number of declarations of conscientious objection to vaccination received by vaccination officers during the first six months of 1912 is 136,335. The approximate number for the whole year is 276,000.
Mr. POINTERasked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that, at a public meeting held in Battersea Town Hall on 6th February, under the auspices of the National Vaccination Officers' Association, to lay before the electors of Battersea the way in which he was dealing with the question of the loss of income sustained by vaccination officers, a resolution was carried that the operation of vaccination should cease to be endowed by the State, and urging the Government to immediately repeal the Vaccination Acts; and whether he will take steps to give effect to this resolution?
§ Mr. BURNSMy attention has been drawn to the resolution referred to. With regard to the last part of the question I cannot undertake to recommend legislation of the kind suggested, at the present time.