HC Deb 10 May 1909 vol 4 c1446
Mr. JOYNSON-HICKS

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he was aware that there were 11,000 certified and 60,000 uncertified mentally defective persons in our workhouses, living and sleeping in the same rooms as persons of sound mind; whether, beginning with the Royal Commission of 1834 and ending with the recent Poor Law Commission, every Commission had reported against the continuance of this condition of affairs; and, if so, what steps he proposed to take, and when, to carry out the unanimous recommendations of such Commissions?

The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Burns)

I do not think that the figures are quite as stated in the question, but I am aware that several Royal Commissions have made recommendations on the matter referred to in it. They will receive consideration when the subject of Poor Law reform is dealt with by the Government.