HC Deb 27 June 1934 vol 291 c1132W
Mr. GROVES

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will suggest to all school authorities that no kind of inoculation shall be performed on any school child without the written consent of the child's parent or guardian?

Mr. RAMSBOTHAM

Measures for the inoculation against infectious diseases of children attending public elementary schools are taken by the public health authority and not by the local education authority, and the responsibility for obtaining the consent of the parent or guardian does not, therefore, rest with the education authority. In the circumstances, the question of making suggestions to local education authorities on the subject does not arise.

Mr. GROVES

asked the Minister of Health whether he will advise all medical officers of health to ensure, when arranging schemes for any form of inoculation of school children or children attending clinics, that no child be inoculated without the written consent of its parent or guardian?

Sir H. YOUNG

Advice of this kind has always been given in the official memoranda issued by my Department on this subject, and I have no reason to suppose that it is not generally followed.