§ LORD ASHBOURNEasked Her Majesty's Government whether the Lunacy Inspectors in Ireland had as yet presented their Report for the year 1892 1405 to the Lord Chancellor of Ireland; and, if not, to explain what was the cause of such a long delay. He said the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, under the Queen's Sign Manual, was entrusted with the care, custody, and control of the persons and property of idiots and lunatics in Ireland, and under a variety of Statutes was directly charged with the oversight of property and persons of lunatics in private asylums. Pursuant to statutory requirements the Lunacy Inspectors were bound to furnish the Lord Chancellor in Ireland annually with Reports in reference to such lunatics, and he wished to know whether that requirement had been complied with for 1892, and, if not, the cause of so long a delay. Before leaving Office he received, in June or July, the Report for the previous year, and he understood the Reports would be made with more celerity to meet the dates fixed by Statute. This was not a controversial matter. He was sure the present Lord Chancellor of Ireland was as anxious to carry out the duties cast upon him in this melancholy relationship.
§ EARL SPENCERAs the noble and learned Lord has said, this is not a controversial matter. Inquiries are being made as to the cause of the delay. I am informed that the Inspectors' Report for 1891 was only presented to the Lord Chancellor in 1893, and that the difficulty arose through a strike of printers. We will inquire further into the matter. Of course the Government are anxious to carry out the provisions of the law with regard to these Returns.
§ LORD ASHBOURNEsaid he had insisted upon this matter when Lord Chancellor, and as the delay had been so great he would ask the question again on Thursday.