§ 85. Mr. RENDALLasked the President of the Local Government Board what steps he is taking, or intends to take, with regard to the fact that mental defective cases admitted from all parts of the country to the Stoke Park Colony in the Chipping Sodbury Union are, when certified as lunatics, sent to the Gloucester County Asylum and remain chargeable to the union until the union can find a settlement and get the particular union to accept chargeability; whether he is aware of the difficulty of proving such settlement and the charges thus falling on the ratepayers; and whether the Board of Control are doing anything to remove this injustice?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Shortt)My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I am informed that since the Mental Deficieny Act came into operation in 1913, ten inmates of Stoke Park Colony have been sent to the Gloucester County Asylum. In three of these cases the place of settlement has not been ascertained, and the cost of the 2037 patients' maintenance falls under the existing law on the Chipping Sodbury guardians. In some of the other cases the Chipping Sodbury guardians have also, I understand, been put to certain expense in ascertaining the place of settlement. The difficulty could only be met by legislation, and the Board of Control have noted the point for consideration with other amendments of the Mental Deficiency Act.
§ Mr. RENDALLCan my right hon. Friend hold out any hope that legislation will be brought in on this subject—it would be uncontroversial in all probability?
§ Mr. SHORTTYes; as soon as possible.