§ Mr. BROMFIELDasked the Secretary of States for Air if fit men are being refused admission to the Royal Air Force solely on the ground that they will not consent to be vaccinated; and if he will instruct officials no longer to treat the exercise of a legal right as a disqualification, thus depriving loyal citizens of the opportunity of serving their country in the Royal Air Force?
2024W
Captain GUESTThe answer to the first part of the question is that recruits are not admitted to the Royal Air Force if they do not wish to be vaccinated. No man is forced to be vaccinated, but, on the other hand, it is not possible to undertake the responsibility of accepting men for service who state that they are unwilling to be protected against smallpox infection, especially as enlistment in the Royal Air Force involves an obligation to proceed, if required, to eastern countries where unavoidable exposure to infection is common.