§ Brigadier-General BROOKEasked the Minister of Health whether he has received any suggestions from local authorities that powers relating to vaccination should be transferred from the guardians to the public health authorities, and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the provisional proposals for the reform of the Poor Law which have already been circulated.
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§ Mr. COMPTONasked the Minister of Health whether a workhouse medical officer is required by his contract only to vaccinate those infants born in the workhouse whose parents apply for their children to be vaccinated; and, if so, whether he will call the attention of boards of guardians to the rights of the fathers of such children to be given an opportunity of claiming exemption from vaccination should they wish to do so?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe vaccination contract made by a board of guardians with the medical officer of a Poor Law institution requires him not only to vaccinate any child resident in the institution, on the request of the parent, but also to offer to vaccinate every child so resident who has reached the age of two months without being vaccinated. I do not consider it necessary to take the action suggested in the second part of the question.