§ MR. CHARLES HOBHOUSE (Bristol, E.)To ask the First Lord of the Treasury, in view of the petition presented to His Majesty's Government by various persons and authorities interested in the case of imbeciles and defective or feeble-minded persons that a Royal Commission should be appointed to consider the provisions now made for these 967 classes, whether he is now in a position to reply to the further letter presented to him in July, 1903, in support of the petition by Members of Parliament on both sides of the House.
(Answered by Mr. A. J. Balfour.) I understand that this question has for some time past been engaging the attention of both the Home Office and the Local Government Board. These Departments have not yet decided upon the best form of inquiry to meet the particular problems referred to, and it may be necessary to extend the scope of the reference. A decision will be reached, I hope, at an early date, which will be communicated to the hon. Member if he will put down another Question in a week's time.