§ Mr. CLYNESasked the Home Secretary if he was aware of the grievance felt by relatives of patients who died in the county asylums, and who had been chargeable to boards of guardians, because of the description pauper patient in the notice of death sent out from the asylums; and whether, having regard to the fact that the full cost of maintenance of many such patients had been met by relatives or friends, he would cause to be eliminated the word pauper from the Form (No. 21) of Notice of Death prescribed in the rules laid down by the Commissioners in Lunacy?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe terms "Private" and "Pauper" are in common use to mark a necessary distinction, and, 423 as the terms are defined in the Lunacy Acts, they could not be changed without legislation. The Secretary of State may point out that although the whole expenses of "maintenance" (as denned by s. 287 of the Lunacy Act, 1890) of patients classed as "Paupers" are often met by relatives or friends, these "expenses of maintenance" do not include any charge for the cost of the building in which he is housed. If a rent charge were exacted, it would mean a payment of about 4s. or 6s. a week beyond the so-called "maintenance."