§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the outbreak of small-pox at the New Edlington village, near Doncaster, where overcrowding is excessive; and, if so, what steps have been taken by his Department to keep the outbreak under control?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I would point out that the responsibility for dealing with an outbreak of small-pox rests with the local authorities and their officers. My Department communicated with the rural district council and the board of guardians as soon as the first cose occurred at New Edlington, advising as to the steps which should be taken. The Department has the outbreak under observation, and there is no ground for supposing that the necessary measures are not being adopted.
§ Mr. PALINGasked the Minister of Health how many cases of small-pox have been notified in Great Britain since the recent outbreak; how many in South Yorkshire; and how many deaths, if any, have resulted?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am not clear what is the exact period which the hon. Member has in mind. The number of cases of small-pox which have occurred in England and Wales during the 18 months ended the 30th June last is 2,200 of which 27 cases were fatal. The number of cases in South Yorkshire during the same period is 423, with one death. The figures included in these statistics for the first six months of the present year are subject to revision.
§ Mr. PALINGasked the Minister of Health whether, on 1st September, the form of statutory declaration of objection to vaccination contained in the notice of the requirements of the Vaccination Acts given by the registrar when a birth is 1512W registered is to be dropped; and whether, under a new Order to be issued on the above date, every parent wishing to get examption for his child is to be compelled to go to the vaccination officer for the form?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second in the negative. The effect of the new Order. which has already been issued, is that from and after the 1st September any parent wishing to make a statutory declaration of conscientious objection to vaccination may obtain a form of declaration from the vaccination officer, or may make a declaration in the form prescribed by the Vaccination Act, 1907, or in a form to the like effect.
§ Mr. LEACHasked the Minister of Health if he has satisfied himself that the proposed new vaccination Order, which does not provide for the inclusion in the birth registration forms of a copy of the usual objection form, is within the requirements of the law; and, if so, what provision is to be made to fulfil Section 3 of the Vaccination Act, 1907, so as to enable objectors to use the proper form of statutory declaration?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I may explain that the Vaccination Act, 1907, requires that a statutory declaration for the purposes of the Act shall be made in the form set out in the Schedule to the Act, or in a form to the like effect. The form, which will be obtainable from vaccination officers, will be the form set out in the Schedule.
§ Mr. BROADasked the Minister of Health whether, in issuing the new vaccination Order, he overlooked the duty of his Department to place on the notice of the requirements of the Vaccination Acts, given at registration of birth, all the forms affecting parents given in the various Schedules to the Acts, including the statutory declaration of objection to vaccination; and whether he will explain his action in removing from Form A, given at registration of a birth, the form of statutory declaration which for 15 years has appeared on that form?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe hon. Member appears to be under some misappre- 1513W hension. The Vaccination Acts do not impose on my Department any such duty as is suggested in the question. I have decided to remove from Form A the form of statutory declaration prescribed by the Vaccination Act, 1907, in pursuance of the general power conferred on my Department by Section 15 of the Vaccination Act, 1871, which provides that the forms contained in the Schedule to the Act of 1867 may by Order from time to time be repealed, altered and added to.
§ Mr. BROADasked the Minister of Health how many deaths from small-pox were registered from 1906 to 1920; how many chicken-pox deaths were registered in the same period; and whether, in view of the statement of the Registrar-General in his Report for the year 1889 that it was probable that most of the deaths registered as due to chicken-pox were in reality cases of modified small-pox, he will have the vaccinal condition of the deaths from chicken-pox stated on the death certificate, and also have such cases included in those of small-pox?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe particulars asked for are as follow:
England and Wales. Deaths from Year. Small-pox. Chicken-pox 1906 … … 21 106 1907 … … 10 120 1908 … … 12 93 1909. … … 21 94 1910 … … 19 97 1911 … … 23 80 1912 … … 9 76 1913 … … 10 83 1914 … … 4 122 1915 … … 13 92 1916 … … 18 65 1917 … … 3 69 1918 … … 2 54 1919 … … 28 55 1920 … … 30 71 The suggestions in the last part of the question will receive consideration.