§ MR. CLANCY (Dublin Co., N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the increase in lunatic asylum charges in Ireland in recent years, he will consider the expediency of appointing a Select Committee to inquire into the cause or causes of the growth of local expenditure on lunatic asylums in that country, and to consider whether any means can be found of limiting or reducing the burden on Irish ratepayers which is involved.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe statistics of insanity do, most unfortunately, show an increase in the numbers of the registered insane. This increase is not confined to Ireland. There has necessarily been a corresponding expansion in the contributions from local rates and from Parliamentary Grants, for the provision of accommodation for the insane, and for their maintenance. The proposal in the Question has already been dealt with in the reports of the Royal Commission on Local Taxation, and I see no reason for further investigation.