§ Mr. GROVESasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the death of a nurse at Birmingham from vaccination; whether he is aware that the operation was imposed by a Sheffield institution as a condition of employment; and whether, in view of such risks, he will advise the authorities of hospitals and similar institutions not to insist on the vaccination of their staffs?
Sir H. YOUNGThe answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the third part, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a question which he asked on 26th July relating to the case of Leonard George Jennings. I may also refer to the remarks on this subject which are contained in the annual report of the chief medical officer of my Department for 1933.
§ Mr. GROVESasked the Home Secretary whether it has been brought to his notice that Leonard George Jennings, aged 18, died recently from post-vaccinal encephalitis, and that he underwent vaccination as a condition of employment with the Gas Light and Coke Company; and whether, in view of this and similar cases, he will introduce legislation amending the Workmen's Compensation Act by putting on to employers the responsibility for the injurious or fatal result of vaccination performed as a condition of employment?
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§ Sir J. GILMOURThe principle as laid down in Section 1 of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1925, is to give compensation for personal injury by accident arising out of and in the course of employment, and I could not recommend legislation to extend the Act to death or injury due to vaccination where the circumstances are not such as to bring the case within the terms of that section.