HC Deb 01 August 1904 vol 139 cc281-2
DR. FARQUHARSON (Aberdeenshire, W.)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he intends to proceed with the Lunacy Acts Amendment Bill this session.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

Unless this Bill should prove quite uncontroversial, I am afraid it has little chance of passing this session.

DR. FARQUHARSON

This is practically a non-controversial Bill. It em- bodies principles which are working well in Scotland, and which are very much needed in England.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I entirely agree with the hon. Member. The sooner England adopts that and many other Scottish Acts the better for England. But that does not get over the difficulty. Even though England may be panting to take the reform which we have so long adopted in Scotland; there may be a few recalcitrant English Members who may wish to discuss it at length; and I am afraid that in that case lunacy must wait for another session.