§ 71. Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked the Minister of Health whether he has received the representation of the Staffordshire Association for the Care of the Mentally Defective regarding the 40 effect of the recent Treasury Circular on the limitations of the spending powers of local authorities on the treatment of urgent cases of mentally defective persons infected with venereal disease; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made into this matter with a view to ensuring that the limitations imposed will not prevent local authorities from dealing immediately with such cases?
§ Sir A. MONDThe representation referred to is receiving careful consideration in connection with the general question of the limitation of expenditure under the Mental Deficiency Acts necessitated by the decision of the Government that the public expenditure must be drastically reduced. Local authorities are at present only able to deal with urgent cases of the kind indicated if the expenditure involved can be met within the limits of their approved estimates for 1921–22.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWill the right hon. Gentleman now see fit to recommend the repeal of the Mental Deficiency Acts?
§ Sir A. MONDI should like notice of that question.
§ Mr. W. THORNEDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think the Government made a huge blunder in issuing this circular?