§ Mr. BLACKasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that in Leicester during 17 years up to the end of 1922 there was not a single death from small-pox, whilst the vaccination rate fell during the same period from 18.3 per cent. to 3.4 per cent., and that for the whole of England and Wales during the same period the total number of deaths has been 255, with a falling vaccination rate of from 73 per cent. to 38.3 per cent., he will bring in a Measure to repeal the 1907 Vaccination Act, abolish all compulsion, and leave the question of 488W vaccination to the discretion of the individual citizen?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYI am considering the present position in regard to vaccination, but I am unable to give any promise to introduce legislation on this subject.
§ Mr. GILBERTasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that under the old Regulations, when a person received an exemption form for vaccination on the registration of the birth of a child, such form when filled up was allowed to be returned postage free, and that under the new Order a parent must now specifically apply for an exemption form, and if filled up and returned the postage must be paid on this form; and whether he will give instructions that the new form shall be post free as under the old Regulations?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the suggestion made in the second part, I will communicate with my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General.