§ MR. PHILIPPSsaid, he wished to call the attention of the Secretary for the Home Department to an order which had been issued respecting the construction of a lunatic asylum in South Wales. The order had been addressed to the magistrates of Pembrokeshire, calling on them to provide a separate asylum for eighty pauper lunatics. Two or three years ago it was contemplated to erect one for Pembroke and the three adjoining counties; but an inspector having reported against the site selected, the asylum had not been erected. Another site had been selected in the western part of Glamorganshire; 180 but that also had been objected to. He hoped the right hon. Baronet would consider the case, and would suggest to the Commissioners of Lunacy that they should give their assistance in the matter.
§ SIR GEORGE GREYsaid, that by the 16 & 17 Vict. c. 97, counties and boroughs were required to provide suitable accommodation for pauper lunatics. By the 29th section the Secretary of State for the Home Department could call upon them to provide such accommodation, if they had not done so, within a year after receiving notice. On the 15th of February last he had received a Report from the Commissioners of Lunacy that in the counties of Cardigan, Glamorgan, Pembroke, and Carmarthen, there was no sufficient accommodation for lunatics, although they amounted to 586 in a population of 500,000. They had urged him to put in force the provisions of the Act, and he had accordingly directed notice to be sent to those counties. It was not intended that there should be a separate asylum for each; and if an asylum were erected sufficient for the pauper lunatics of the four counties, the terms of the Act would be complied with. He was sure every reasonable assistance would be given by the Commissioners in establishing such an asylum.