§ COLONEL WELBY (Taunton)To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he will explain why an inquiry into the management of the Taunton Isolation Hospital asked for by the Taunton Town Council and the Taunton Rural District Council, who are jointly responsible for it, has been refused; and whether he will reconsider his decision in the matter.
(Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) I understand that an agreement was made in 1895 between the Town Council and the Rural District Council under which the hospital referred to was to be managed by the Town Council for five years and by the Rural District Council for the next three years. The authority 1232 not in management were empowered to appoint a consultative committee to meet the committee of management, and a visiting committee consisting of one member from each authority was to be appointed. The three years of control by the Rural District Council commenced in 1901. Some complaints were recently made as regards the management of the hospital. The matter was inquired into by a committee consisting of members of both authorities, with the Town Clerk, who are stated to have expressed themselves satisfied that there was no ground for complaint. The Town Council asked the Local Government Board to hold an inquiry on the subject; but the Rural District Council, after receiving a report from their committee of management, informed the Board that they did not join in the application, as they considered an inquiry quite unnecessary. They stated that they were quite satisfied that, with some further directions they had given, every care and attention would be bestowed on the patients. I have no control over the administration of this institution, which rests entirely with the local bodies; and in the circumstances of the case I could not undertake to direct an inquiry into the matter. I may point out that the period of management by the Rural District Council expires this year, when an opportunity will be given to the two authorities to make any fresh arrangements they may desire.