HC Deb 07 March 1918 vol 103 cc2126-7
78. Mr. KING

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will take measures to expedite the discharge from the Army to the care of the Pensions Ministry of all such nerve-strained soldiers as are no longer fit for any military service, but whose industrial activities can, on the other hand, be made profitable to the country?

Mr. MACPHERSON

When these cases no longer require indoor hospital treatment and are considered to be unfit for further military service they are like other invalids discharged from the Service at as early a date as possible.

82. Mr. KING:

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will bring in a Bill to modify the King's Regulations in such a way that the safeguards provided by the Lunacy Act may become operative for the protection of such soldiers as are not unbalanced to the degree of being certifiable and who could not, in accordance with civilian rights, be placed under lunacy administration?

Mr. MACPHERSON

Only such cases as are certifiable under the Lunacy Act are so certified and placed under Lunacy administration. Uncertified cases are discharged in the ordinary manner.

83. Mr. KING

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the War Office is paying asylum authorities to relieve the War Office of responsibility in respect to the care and treatment of the uncertifiable nerve-strained soldiers confined in any or all of the following institutions: Springfield War Hospital (Middlesex Asylum); Monyhull Institution, Birmingham; Maghull Institution, Liverpool; Maudsley Asylum; Local Government Board; Bradford War Hospital (Abram Peel); Fourth Southern General Hospital, Plymouth; and Glen Lomond War Hospital, File; and whether the other similar institutions in process of establishment have in any instance been, up to the present, in use for lunatics and are still staffed by lunacy officials?

Mr. MACPHERSON

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, some of these institutions have been in use for lunatics and until taken over and converted into military hospitals they will still retain their original staff.

Mr. KING

Does the hon. Gentleman really mean to say that our soldiers are not being attended to whilst in the Army by lunacy attendants and lunacy doctors in institutions which are still under the Lunacy Acts?

Mr. MACPHERSON

Those institutions so long as they are under our control are governed by men of great qualifications.