§ 66. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Minister of Pensions whether a photographic gazette of all unidentified ex-service men who are inmates of mental hospitals is being prepared; if so, when it will be ready; and how it will be distributed?
§ 67. Major ENTWISTLEasked the Minister of Pensions whether it is a fact that a number of unidentified ex-service 207 men are at the present time inmates of lunatic asylums and mental hospitals; and, if so, will he at once arrange for the publication of a journal containing photographs of these men and issue it to the general public in the hope that some of these men may be identified by relatives and friends?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of PENSIONS (Major Tryon)I will answer these two questions together. I am glad to have this opportunity of correcting the unfortunate impression, which seems to be prevalent, that there are many unidentified ex-service men in mental institutions. The fact is that of all the male patients admitted since the 1st August, 1914, to county and borough asylums in England and Wales, only four are at present unidentified; and of these two are over 60, one over 50 and the other is about 16 years of age. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for War, in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Wigan on the 17th November, stated that there is no unidentified soldier in the mental hospitals under the control of the War Office; and, so far as my Department is aware, there is no unidentified ex-service man in any other mental institution.
§ Major TRYONI have not had the whole of the returns from Scotland, but there is little hope that any such cases will be found in Scotland.