BROMSGROVE MP Julie Kirkbride has left no stone unturned in her attempts to find out whether little Leo Blair has had the contentious measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.

She managed to win support from sections of the national Press for her campaign and even managed to grill Tony Blair at Prime Minister's questions in the Commons just before Christmas.

But all her efforts proved fruitless as Mr Blair refused to be drawn.

It was, the PM said in the most polite way possible, a private matter for himself and his wife Cherie.

Redditch MP and Health Minister, Jacqui Smith also refused to comment on whether her two young sons had been given the MMR jab.

But it turns out that Julie - who is happy to reveal her son Angus will not be given the jab - would have had more success with Mike Foster.

This week the Evening News had - for the first time - cause to ask Mike if his own three young children had been given the triple vaccine.

The reason was the revelation that the vaccination rate in Worcestershire has fallen by two per cent to 87 per cent.

The answer was blunt, to say the least. Mike, who said he was worried by the figures, said: ''I do differ from Tony Blair on this issue in that I am going to say.

''It's yes. But you really shouldn't be asking because it's none of your business.''

He did add, however, that I should not ''take it personally''.

''My wife and I agreed in advance that if anyone should ever ask the question, that is what we would say.''

It has been reported Ministers are to consider proposals to ban children who have not been vaccinated for measles, mumps and rubella from attending schools, play schools or nurseries for fear of the diseases spreading.

Youngsters who can't have the MMR jab on religious or medical grounds would not be banned. Neither would those who have been given the three jabs separately.

But it is bound to stir up yet more controversy.