§ 38. Mr. YEOasked the Secretary of Slate for the Home Department whether he is aware that on 28th April four cases came before Old Street Police Court, in all of which the prisoners were alleged to be mentally deficient: that the magistrate observed that, although the Act for the care of the feeble-minded became law on 1st April, there had apparently been no provision made for taking care of anyone coming within the scope of the Act; and that in each case the prisoner was remanded in the hope that some arrangements would be made by the authorities for their permanent reception; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have not been able to consult the magistrate who sat at Old Street on the 28th April, as he is absent on leave, but I am informed that there have been four cases in which mental deficiency has been alleged, not on one day, but in the last fortnight, and that in two of these cases the medical evidence did not support the allegation, and in the third the medical decision is still pending. The magistrate did not use the expression suggested in the question, though he said that there was no institution available in London for persons committed under the Mental Deficiency Act. The duty of providing accommodation for defectives rests with the local authorities, and in December last a circular was issued by the Home Office explaining their responsibilities and urging them to make arrangements for giving effect to the Act without delay. As those institutions for defectives which existed before the passing of the Act are already full, new accommodation has to be created for the purposes of the Act, and some delay in erecting or adapting buildings for use as institutions is inevitable. I have urged upon the Board of Control the necessity of pressing the authorities to provide adequate accommodation as speedily as possible, and the Board are making every effort to secure this object.
§ Mr. YEOWill the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the question of asking the county council if these boys may be put into some institution instead of being tainted with prison, and also may be given leave as well as the magistrate while they are waiting?
§ Mr. McKENNAI understand that in these cases the boys have been convicted, and there is a slight difference between the case of a boy who has been convicted and a magistrate who has not been convicted.