§ Dr. O'DONOVANasked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to remarks by the Recorder of the City of London concerning a woman detained at Epsom under Sub-section (1) of Section 11 of the Mental Deficiency Act, 1931; and will he institute inquiries whether any special amendment of the Act with regard to the frequency of medical inspections is called for in the light of experience of the working of the Act?
Sir H. YOUNGYes, Sir. These remarks appear to have been based upon inadequate information. Apart from the periodical statutory reviews to which the Recorder referred, (mental defectives in institutions are under the constant observation of the medical staff, suitable cases are frequently given leave of absence to test their fitness for discharge, and the Board of Control can discharge any patient at any time. The second part of the question does not, therefore, appear to arise.