§ SIR CHARLES CAMERON () Glasgow, BridgetonI beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether the Scottish Local Government Board has yet considered the change of practice recently introduced in Glasgow in dealing with cases of debility and injury brought to the police offices and subsequently removed to the parochial hospital, whereby pauper patients are removed to that hospital without any certificate from the parochial medical officer of their fitness for removal; whether the criminal authorities have sanctioned the inspection of the private police books by the parochial officers; and whether the removal of a moribund person on the data contained 383 in these books, and without certificate from the parochial medical officer, would be held to satisfy the requirements of the Poor Law Act, and on whom, in case of mishap occurring in connection with a removal so conducted, would legal responsibility rest.
§ *MR. A. GRAHAM MURRAYI am informed by the Local Government Board that they have inquired and find that a alight change of practice has taken place in regard to cases occurring during the night in the portion of the amalgamated parish, formerly the City parish of Glasgow. These eases used to be removed direct to the poorhouse by cab, etc., by the police, and were admitted without communication with the parochial authorities or a certificate of any kind. Now a telephone message is sent to the Parochial Chambers, and the poorhouse ambulance is used for the conveyance of the person to the poorhouse on the casualty surgeon's written recommendation. Casualty surgeons have been instructed to enter in a book kept by them their opinion whether the patient can be safely removed, and such book is to be available to the inspector of poor or his representatives before removing any patient from the police office to the poorhouse. I may add that the Local Government Board consider this system a great improvement on the previous system, and I see nothing in it contrary to the requirements of the Poor Law Act.