LUNACY LAWS. (Hansard, 3 March 1924)

§ Mr. TURNER-SAMUELS
I desire to raise a matter that was mentioned at Question Time. It is of such great importance that had I been able to move the Adjournment for 8.15 I should certainly have done so, because in my opinion and in that of experts of high authority, there is a condition in this country due to the maladministration of the lunacy laws which is creating a very definite and scandalous menace to personal liberty. The facts that have recently been revealed in the case of Harnett and Bond and the facts that are standing to be disclosed for any inquiry prove conclusively that in many cases people who are sane and perfectly all right to be at large are being immured within the walls of asylums without having any right to be there at all. I wish I had had more time at my disposal to have gone into the position in regard to the question of certification, and to have dealt with various matters appertaining to the administration of the lunacy laws in connection with discharge and also with medical inspection. Unfortunately, the time at my disposal must make my observations somewhat fugitive in order that I may cover as much ground as possible. It may be useful to read one or two communications which I have received in regard to this question, and which startlingly disclose the very serious position which exists in connection with the administration of the lunacy laws. One letter says: DEAR SIR,—Should you desire it, I can furnish you with useful information with regard to the existing conditions behind the scenes in mental hospitals. With my left hand now resting on my Bible, I assure you that 19 out of 20 attendants in asylums are cruel, cowardly brutes"— [HON. MEMBERS: "Rubbish!"] This I have seen with my own eyes, and more than once heard the fact voiced by people outside, and even by two attendants themselves. One nurse told me she had nearly fainted on seeing a junior nurse ill-treat a patient, and a senior warned her that the would report her to the matron, but desisted, unfortunately, when the cruel girl entreated her. One attendant told me she was kind to patients when she first went on to the staff, but as the other attendants laughed at her, she soon joined the ranks of the cruel.

§ Lord EUSTACE PERCY
May I ask the hon. Gentleman what name is attached 1143 to that letter which makes such serious accusations?

§ Mr. TURNER-SAMUELS
I am not prepared to disclose the name. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh!"] It is no use saying "Oh!" I am prepared to disclose to the Noble Lord the letter which I hold in my hand, and which he can verify, but I am not prepared to give any name for the purpose of its being published in the Press.

Dr. GUEST
On a point of Order. Is it desirable that very serious accusations of this character should be made in a way which appears to me to be rather reckless?

§ Mr. SPEAKER
My attention had been distracted for the moment, and I did not hear particularly what the hon. Member was saying, but with the hon. Member's experience, he must surely know that he must use some caution in matters which affect personal reputations.

§ Dr. CHAPPLE
Will the hon. Member say whether the letter is from an inmate of an asylum, or a doctor, or a layman?

§ Mr. HARCOURT JOHNSTONE
Is it not in order, Mr. Speaker, for an hon. Member to make such reflections as he likes in this House on the conduct of the lunacy laws in general, without interference?

§ Mr. SPEAKER
Certainly, but I gather from what has been said that there was some question of a personal character. [HON. MEMBERS: "No!"]

§ Mr. TURNER-SAMUELS
I have made no personal reflection whatever. The whole thing is obstruction by two or three Members.

Dr. GUEST
On a point of explanation, as your attention was distracted at the time, may I say that a suggestion was made that 19 out of 20 attendants are vicious and cruel, or words to that effect.

§ Mr. SPEAKER
That is a statement for which the hon. Member must take his own responsibility.

§ Mr. TURNER-SAMUELS
I am here for the purpose of animadverting upon the cruel administration of the Lunacy Laws. Surely, I cannot be expected to throw bouquets at the asylums I am attacking. I am quoting instances which are of far less importance 1144 than the facts revealed in the recent case of Harnett and Bond. I am endeavouring to substantiate the fact that the case is not an isolated one but has been and can be repeated in innumerable cases, and I am endeavouring to adduce evidence for which I take the responsibility, and the documents in connection with which I am prepared to hand over immediately, so that any hon. Member can get up and make an attack on the point. I come to another letter, in which my correspondent sets out certain things, and says: I think you will agree that the unfortunate conditions obtaining at a certain asylum are equal to, if not worse than, the terrible sufferings at the present time, which we read about in Siberia. I am not mentioning the particular asylum, but I wish to state that there are conditions which are being complained of by people outside asylums, which ought to be inquired into, and which not only provoke but justify the setting up of a Royal Commission.

§ Lord E. PERCY
In connection with these letters which are put anonymously to the House, has the hon. Member investigated the facts himself? If not, in what sense are they evidence to bring before this House?

§ Mr. TURNER-SAMUELS
I am within the ruling of Mr. Speaker. This afternoon I have been in communication with an authoritative person, whose word I am prepared to accept, who recited various cases to me as to the way in which the Lunacy Laws are maladministered, and I am not prepared to enter into a passage-at-arms with the Noble Lord in connection with the few words which I have got to say.

§ Dr. CHAPPLE
May I ask—

§ Mr. SPEAKER
The hon. Member has only a few minutes in which to conclude.

§ Mr. TURNER-SAMUELS
There is no doubt something must be done in connection with the facts revealed in the Harnett case. May I read the following passage from the "Law Times" of 1st March: The disclosures in the case of Harnett v. Bond, which was tried before Mr. Justice Lush and a special jury, will come as a shock to most persons. That at the present day, a sane person, fit to be at large and not dangerous to himself or others—and this was the finding of the jury—should be confined in an asylum from 1912 to 1921, when 1145 he escaped, passes belief. It is clear that the existing precaution to prevent sane persons from being detained in asylums are insufficient, and some sort of judicial inquiry must be provided. Of course, there are urgent and dangerous cases which call for immediate action, but that full safeguards should be taken to prevent improper detention has been shown by the recent case. I have personally gone carefully and meticulously into all the facts connected with certification, discharge, and medical inspection, and am bound to say that I have ample evidence, which I am prepared to produce to any Member of this House, that in every head and department of the administration of the lunacy laws not only is there neglect but danger to personal liberty. I urge upon the Government and this House, which are responsible for the liberty of every person, that a Royal Commission should be immediately set up to look into the bad conditions prevailing in the administration of the lunacy laws.

§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Mr. A. Greenwood)
In less than a minute which 1146 remains to me, may I point out that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave a most sympathetic answer when the question was put this afternoon, and nothing I can say to-night, having regard to the fact, as hinted in the answer given by my right hon. Friend that an appeal might be lodged, can add to that answer. That appeal has now been lodged, and the matter is sub judice, and it would be improper for me to refer to the case at all, but I understand that the appeal may be heard at an early date, after which the Prime Minister, I feel sure, will consider the advisability of having the inquiry started at once. I hope that will satisfy the House.

§ Mr. TURNER-SAMUELS
Will not the Committee of Inquiry be set up in any case?

§ Mr. GREENWOOD
Clearly I cannot to-night go beyond the promise made by the Prime Minister this afternoon.