§ 34. Mrs. Tateasked the Minister of Health the number of persons certified insane in the year 1938; and whether this is an increase over the years 1937, 1936 and 1935?
§ Mr. ElliotThe number of persons certified insane in 1938 was 17,276. This is lower than the number certified in 1937, 1936, or 1935.
§ Mr. LeonardDo the figures include Scotland?
§ Mr. ElliotNo, Sir.
§ 35. Mrs. Tateasked the Minister of Health the number of institutions and number of persons directly or indirectly under the Board of Control?
§ Mr. ElliotThe number of institutions under the Lunacy and Mental Treatment Acts, 1890 to 1930, and under the Mental Deficiency Acts, 1913 to 1938, is 182 and 288 respectively. The number of persons notified as under care under these Acts on 1st January, 1939, was 157,584 and 89,904 respectively; of these 153,749 and 46,054 were in institutions. The Board of Control are directly responsible for the State Institution for Mental Defectives, which contains 1,475 patients.
§ Mrs. TateIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these thousands of people and 2,000 institutions are never under discussion in this House unless the appropriate Vote in the Ministry of Health Estimates is asked for, and that the matter is very seldom discussed; and does he think that a satisfactory state of affairs?
§ Mr. ElliotI am afraid that the subjects which are raised on the Estimates are not in my discretion.