§ 33. Mr. SNELLasked the Home Secretary how many married persons are at present detained in lunatic asylums in England and Wales; how many of these have been certified for more than five years; whether the Government intend to promote legislation to carry into effect the recommendations of the Majority Report of the Royal Commission on Marriage and Divorce; and is he aware that the late Home Secretary in July, 1921, promised to give the information now asked for to the House?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI am informed by the Board of Control that information was collected by them in 1921, and it was found that on the 1st January of that year there were under care in institutions for the insane in England and Wales (excluding Broadmoor), 14,058 males and 19,292 females, who were described as married; and that of these 7,121 males and 10,801 females had been certified more than five years. There are no later figures available. It is not the intention of the Government to promote legislation on the subject this Session.