§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord HALSBURY)I ask your Lordships' leave to re-introduce the Bill for amending the Lunacy Laws. It is from no fault of this House, or of those who have held the Office which I occupy, that the numerous amendments of the law on this most important subject which are contained in this Bill have not been realized long ago. Most of these changes meet with general assent; some of them are of very substantial value. I persevere in my endeavour to have this matter dealt with, and leave to others the responsibility of neglecting it. With your Lordships' assistance, I hope to send the Bill, as soon as possible, to the other House, where it is the intention of the Government to give as early an opportunity as may be practicable of having it considered. I shall not think it necessary in this House, where the same Bill has passed so many times, to do more than point out in Committee the very few differences between this Bill and its predecessors, and to invite your Lordships' assistance in dealing with the serious question of mechanical restraint which I regret to find prevailing in some quarters. I shall very shortly introduce a Bill consolidating the Lunacy Acts, and I hope that whatever may be the fate of such parts of this Amendment Bill as are subjects of controversy, at least those parts which bear on the work of consolidation will be allowed to proceed without the loss of another year.
§ Bill to amend the Acts relating to Lunatics.—Presented (The Lord Chancellor); read 1a.