HC Deb 31 March 1920 vol 127 cc1231-2
22. Major ENTWISTLE

asked the Minister of Health if he will state how many discharged soldiers and sailors are at present in public asylums; and if it is intended to provide any other accommodation for these men?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Major Baird)

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The number is about 4,000. As regards the second part of the question, so far as I am aware, there is no intention to provide other accommodation for these men, and I am advised that there would be serious objections to treating these cases in special establishments. The hon. Member will find the matter discussed in the Report of the Board of Control for 1917. There is also the important point that under the present arrangements it is possible in many cases to transfer the patient to an asylum closer to his relatives, and a large number of applications for such transfers have been received.

Lieut.-Colonel MALONE

Are not many of these cases not really very serious, and likely to return to complete sanity if they were put into more suitable accommodation?

Major BAIRD

I do not think that follows. I think they are receiving the best possible treatment likely to lead to their recovery.