HC Deb 07 May 1894 vol 24 c467
MR. HAYDEN

On behalf of the hon. Member for Waterford, I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with regard to the fact that the number of insane persons under official cognizance in England and Wales has increased from 41,120 in 1862 to 89,822 in 1892, whether there are any grounds for holding that the continuous increase shown by the statistics is only an apparent one; and whether he has called, or intends to call, for a special Report on the subject, similar to that just laid upon the Table in relation to Ireland?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. ASQUITH, Fif'e, E.)

The figures quoted give the increase in the number of persons officially known to be lunatics. The Lunacy Commissioners believe that the increase is not due to any general increase of insanity greater than that of population, but to the larger proportion of cases now brought under official cognizance, and detained under care and treatment. No special Report on the subject appears necessary. It will be referred to in the forthcoming Annual Report of the Commissioners in Lunacy.