§ 50. Mr. ROBERT RICHARDSONasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the obstacles placed by the Pensions and Health Ministries in the way of the discharge of ex-service men and other inmates of asylums in instances where it cannot be proved against the patients that they are dangerous and unfit to be at large, he will take measures for the institution of an appeal court, not connected with the lunacy or pensions administrations, to which inmates would be entitled to present their applications for freedom in accordance with the rights, at present held in abeyance which are guaranteed to them by the emancipating provisions of the existing Lunacy Acts?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Major Boyd-Carpenter)No obstacles are placed by the Ministry of Pensions or the Ministry of Health in the way of the discharge of ex-service men and other inmates of asylums. This is not a matter in which either Department intervenes. Ex-service patients who have been accepted by the Ministry of Pensions and classified as service patients are upon the footing of private patients, and can be discharged under the provisions of Section 72 of the Lunacy Act, unless a certificate is given by the medical officer 1742 of the institution to the effect that the patient is dangerous and unfit to be at large. Other patients can only be discharged by the visiting committee, in whose discretion the matter rests. The remainder of the question does not, therefore, arise.