HC Deb 21 July 1896 vol 43 cc257-8
MR. McCARTAN

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether his attention has been called to the proceedings at an inquest, held in Belfast Workhouse into the death of an inmate named Eliza Jane Hanna, in which it appeared that the deceased had been a patient in Belfast Asylum; (2) will he state when and under what statute she was transferred to Belfast Workhouse; (3) whether she belonged to the Belfast Union; and, if not, under what authority did the Guardians of the Poor there admit her and keep her confined in Belfast Workhouse at the expense of the ratepayers of Belfast; (4) whether Belfast Workhouse has ever been certified by the Inspectors of Lunatics or the Board of Control as a suitable and proper place for the reception of the insane; (5) whether he is aware that the doctor of the workhouse swore at the Inquiry that the patient was transferred without any consultation between the doctors of the two institutions, and that the recreation yard at the workhouse was so small and usually so noisy that it had been described by one of the inspectors as a pandemonium; and (6), whether he will have full inquiry made into the matter?

* MR. GERALD BALFOUR

My attention has been drawn by the Question to the proceedings at the inquest referred to in the first paragraph. The clerk of the union states that the woman was received into the workhouse in December 1893, as a presumably destitute person, in exchange for another person sent from the workhouse to the lunatic asylum. The woman did not belong to the Belfast Union. The reply to the fourth paragraph is in the negative; no such certificate is required. As to the fifth paragraph, no consultation is held regarding the condition of patients between the medical officers of the two institutions. I understand the medical officer of the workhouse stated at the inquest that he had heard that an inspector of lunatics had described the recreation yard in the manner described, but I have not ascertained from the inspector of lunatics whether he has been correctly reported.

MR. McCARTAN

Might I ask the right hon. Gentleman, did he make any inquiry as to the correctness of the Report?

* Mr. GERALD BALFOUR

I am making that inquiry.

MR. McCARTAN

The right hon. Gentleman did not answer the Question under what authority the guardians admitted the woman and kept her confined in the workhouse at the expense of the ratepayers of Belfast?

* Mr. GERALD BALFOUR

I will make inquiry into the matter.