§ SIR JAMES HASLETT (Belfast, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state when the portion of capitation grant for lunatic asylums not paid by Government in 1899 will be paid over to the local authorities: and what is the reason for withholding it so long.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe position in reference to the payment of the grant in aid of the maintenance of pauper lunatics for the period mentioned has repeatedly been explained, both in answer to questions in this House and in communications addressed by Government to the local authorities. It is erroneous to assume that these authorities have been deprived of any portion of the grant by reason of the change in the year of account. It is true that the expenditure during the quarter ended 31st March, 1899, does not form an element in the calculation of the grant for 1900–1, but in lieu of it the somewhat greater expenditure for the corresponding quarter of 1900 has been taken, and the local authorities have thus received for this year, as heretofore, a full year's grant.
An HON. MEMEBERIs it not the case that the grant is sometimes kept back three months? Will the right hon. Gentleman inquire into an instance of that laid before him?
§ MR. WYNDHAMI have inquired into it very fully. It is a very complicated matter.