§ MR. NICHOLLasked whether the Government contemplated any alteration in the law respecting pauper lunatic asylums, whereby counties or boroughs having no asylum for the pauper lunatics thereof would be relieved from the duty of erecting or providing such an asylum, in conformity with the provisions of the 8th and 9th Victoria, c. 126, and the 9th and 10th Victoria, c. 84, or whether it was intended to enforce the performance of that duty?
§ SIR G. GREYreplied, that it was not the intention of the Government to propose any alteration in the law whereby counties or boroughs should be relieved from the duty of erecting or keeping up asylums for lunatic paupers. As to the latter part of the question, the hon. and learned Gentleman was aware, that by the provisions of the former of the two Acts to which he had referred, if within three years any county or borough did not take the requisite steps for complying with the Act, it would be in the power of the Secretary of State to interfere and compel them. That Act had received the Royal Assent on the 8th of August, 1845, audit would not be until three years from that time that the Secretary of State could take any steps to 676 oblige counties or boroughs to perform their duty in this respect.
§ MR. NICHOLLsaid, that both by that Act and by the Act of last year it was made imperative on the justices in quarter-sessions to give public notice of their intention to appoint a Committee to superintend the erecting or providing of these asylums; and he wished to know whether the Government meant to enforce the provision for the giving of such notices?
§ SIR G. GREYreplied, that every step necessary to carry out the Acts would be taken, so as to provide for the due execution of their provisions.