§ MR. FIRTHasked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether the decision arrived at by the Metropolitan Asylums Board on Saturday last, to continue legal proceedings in the Hampstead Hospital case, has the sanction and approval of the Local Government Board; and, whether the estimated cost of the legal proceedings already incurred, and at present paid or payable by the Metropolitan Asylums Board out of public funds, exceeds £20,000?
§ MR. DODSONSir, the sanction and approval of the Board is not necessary to the proceedings referred to; but I have no hesitation in stating that I have expressed my acquiescence in the decision of the managers not to abandon the second appeal in the Hampstead case. I have no information as to the estimated cost of the legal proceedings instituted against the managers; and I cannot, therefore, say what they will amount to.