§ MR. WILES (Islington, S.)To ask the President of the Local Government Board if he is aware that the Report of the joint Committee of the Throe Counties Asylum, near Arlesey, shows that 32,800 gallons of beer were brewed in the institution last year for the use of the inmates and staff at a cost of £933; and whether, seeing that the experience of the London County Council Asylums Committee has proved the percentage of recoveries to be greater where no beer is given, he will consider the advisability of recommending the joint Committee to abandon the practice of giving alcoholic beverages to lunatics, except under direct medical orders.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) I beg to answer this Question on behalf of my right hon. friend. I am informed 1037 by the Lunacy Commissioners that the beer used at the Three Counties Asylum is given to the patients generally on Sundays only, when each patient has half a pint at dinner. On week days patients are encouraged to work by an. allowance of beer to those who work. As, however, the use of beer has been discontinued in most asylums, I will make further inquiry into the matter.