MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there is any objection to give the Return of Lunatic Asylums asked for by the hon. Member for East Wicklow, which appears on the Notice Paper this day.
§ *SIR M. WHITE RIDLEYMy main objection to granting this Return is that I cannot myself see, and have not been able to ascertain from the hon. Member 1441 who asks for it, what useful purpose the Return is expected to serve. It is a costly one to prepare, and seems to contain little of value which cannot he got from the annual Reports of the Lunacy Commissioners.
§ *SIR M. WHITE RIDLEYYes, and it is from looking at the Return that I have formed the conclusion that its value is not proportionate to the expense it involves. I shall be glad, however, to see the hon. Member who asks for it, on the subject.