HC Deb 27 April 1874 vol 218 cc1181-2
MR. COOPE

asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether, in his measure to relieve Local Taxation, he is prepared to make any provision for the hardship inflicted on the counties of Middlesex. Essex, and Kent by the large number of Lunatics sent home from India, who, being landed in the Thames, were afterwards placed in the asylums of those counties?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

, in reply, said, no doubt the question was one of great importance, especially to the three counties mentioned, which were somewhat accidentally charged with the expense of those lunatics. The matter, however, was one which was outside the proposals made in the Budget, but it was engaging the attention of the Government, and he could at present say nothing upon it.

MR. COOPE

gave Notice that he would take another opportunity of bringing the subject under the consideration of the House.

MR. LAMBERT

asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, When the relief promised towards lunatic and police rates will be available?

MR. W. STANHOPE

asked. What description of lunatics would participate in the grant?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

, in reply, said, the intention of the proposal he made the other day, was to confine the grant to the case of lunatics chargeable as asylum patients, and not as Union patients. As to the time when relief would be given, the Government proposed that it should be after the Michaelmas audit, and the accounts would be paid somewhere about October or November. With regard to the police, the additional payments would be made at the same period at which they were now made. There were different periods for different parts of the Kingdom. In England, the police year ended on the 29th of September, and the payments would be made from the 1st of April for the first half-year. In Scotland it ended on the 15th of March, and payment would then be made for the whole year. In the metropolis there were two settlement days, the 30th of June and the 31st of December, and the first payment would be made on the settlement on the 30th of June for the quarter.