§ MR. ROWNTREEI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been called to the statement in the Appendix to the 46th Report of the Commissioners in Lunacy, as to the Yorkshire North Riding Asylum, in which the Commissioners say—
We gather that there is not any Roman Catholic service here, although there are 72 patients of that faith";and if this Report has been or will be officially communicated to the Local Authorities who are responsible for the management of the asylum, or if any other means can be taken to secure suitable religious provision for the persons referred to.
§ MR. MATTHEWSThe Report quoted was originally written by the Visiting Commissioners in the Visitors' Book at the North Riding Asylum, in order that it might come to the notice of the Visiting Committee, whose province it is, under Section 276 of the Act of last year, to deal with the subject of religious provision for the patients. I am informed by the Superintendent of the asylum that the Report was considered by the Committee of Visitors, who decided that the practice hitherto pursued of allowing Roman Catholic patients, when well enough, to attend, if they desire it, the services of the Roman Catholic Church at York be continued; and that care be taken to communicate with a priest in the event of any patient being seriously ill, or wishing to be visited by a priest. I am also informed that the priests have willingly visited the members of their Church, and have always attended when summoned.