§ Mr. SCRYMGEOURasked the Minister of Labour, as representing the Ministry of Health, if he will give details regarding the vaccination of the children born at Poplar, Stepney, Bethnal Green, and Lambeth, showing the percentage of births vaccinated for each of the last 10 years for which the returns are available, and the number of public vaccinations of persons, other than children under one year of age, performed in those unions in each of those years?
§ Major BOYD-CARPENTERMy right hon. Friend is having a statement prepared which he will send to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Labour, as representing the Ministry of 1793W Health, whether he can produce evidence based on the small-pox notifications for the last 20 years showing that the exemption Act of 1907 has resulted in an increase of small-pox in this country as compared with the years prior to that Act?
§ Major BOYD-CARPENTERI am advised that small-pox has been much less prevalent in this country since 1907. than in the period immediately prior to that year, but it must not be assumed that the absence of small-pox from the country has been due to the passing of the Act.
§ Mr. DUNNICOasked the Minister of Labour, as representing the Ministry of Health, whether a case of small-pox remained in the Poplar Workhouse undiscovered for approximately 14 days, and that during such period not less than 22 other persons were infected; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made into this matter?
§ Major BOYD-CARPENTERThe facts are substantially as stated in the first part of the question. The whole of the circumstances connected with this outbreak were investigated by a medical officer of the Ministry immediately the first case was reported.
§ Mr. GILBERTasked the Minister of Labour, as representing the Ministry of Health, what was the total charge for the last financial year for vaccination; whether the figures will be increased this year owing to the recent epidemic; whether the whole charge for vaccination in the country is borne by his Department, or if local authorities bear any pro7 portion of the cost; and, if so, how much?
§ Major BOYD-CARPENTERThe latest year for which complete figures are available is that ended the 31st March, 1921. In that year the total expenditure on public vaccination amounted to £183,423, of which £174,950 was paid by boards of guardians out of the rates, and £8,473 was defrayed out of moneys voted By Parliament. It is probable that recent outbreaks of small-pox in England and Wales will result in increased expenditure on public vaccination during the current year.
§ Mr. GILBERTasked the Minister of Labour, as representing the Ministry of Health, what are the terms of service of public vaccinators; whether they are paid by a fixed annual sum or whether they 1794W are paid fees per person vaccinated; whether these fees vary if the person is operated on at a public station or at his own house; whether any payment is made to private doctors who may vaccinate their own patients; and, if so, how much?
§ Major BOYD-CARPENTERPublic vaccinators are employed by boards of guardians under contract, which may be terminated by either party by giving 28 days' notice. As a general rule, the method of payment is by fees, the amounts of which are specified in the contract, but in a few cases an annual salary is paid. The fee for vaccination at the home of the person vaccinated is invariably higher than for vaccination elsewhere. No payment is made from public funds for the vaccination by private doctors of their own patients.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINasked the Minister of Labour, as representing the Ministry of Health, whether he is able to give the House approximate figures as to the number of citizens of Greater London who have taken advantage of the facilities for public vaccination during the last four weeks?
§ Major BOYD-CARPENTERIt is well known that large numbers of persons in and around London have availed themselves of the facilities provided for public vaccination during the last few weeks, but I regret that I am not in a position to supply even approximate figures as to the actual numbers.
§ Mr. R. YOUNGasked the Minister of Labour, as representing the Ministry of Health, whether he will have an inquiry made into the high fatality of the recent London small-pox cases, seeing that in the provinces some hundreds of unvaccinated small-pox cases have occurred recently without a single death?
§ Major BOYD-CARPENTERI am advised that the high rate of mortality amongst the recent London small-pox cases is probably due to the importation from Eastern Europe of a particularly virulent type of infection.
§ Mr. MARCHasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the fact that employers of labour in London are threatening to dismiss those of their workers who refuse to be vaccinated, and that some of the latter have already been dismissed; 1795W whether he is aware that a county court judge, on 22nd April, 1902, awarded a plaintiff £15 damages and costs for wrongful dismissal for refusal to be vaccinated; that much suffering has been caused to the workers in several large London factories by this enforced vaccination; and whether he will make it known to employers that they are acting illegally in dismissing workers for refusing to submit to vaccination?
§ Sir M. BARLOWMy attention has not been called to any such cases nor is it a matter in which I could intervene.