§ 38. Mr. BARKERasked the Minister of Health if lie will institute a public inquiry into the whole administration of our mental asylums, in view of the resignation of many of the staff, including the medical officer, and upwards of 30 of the nurses of the Park Prewett Mental Hospital at Basingstoke?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe administration of public mental hospitals was dealt with in 1922 in the Report of the Committee under the chairmanship of the hon. Member for West Fulham, and again in 1926 in the Report of the Royal Commission on Lunacy. I see no reason, therefore; to institute the inquiry suggested by the hon. Member. As regards the recent incident at Park Prewett Mental Hospital, I would refer to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Plaistow (Mr. W. Thorne) on the 10th November.