§ Mr. FINNEYasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to a resolution of a meeting of Poor Law guardians of the Wolstanton and Burslem union, Staffordshire, calling attention to the increasing charges on the rates and with special reference to the recent increase for the charge in the maintenance of patients in the mental hospital from 28s. to 35s. per week, and to the fact that the Exchequer contributions, as fixed under the Local Government Act, 1888, remain the same, and the grant, notwithstanding the enhanced cost of maintenance, for patients in mental hospitals still remains at 4s. per week per patient, which grant of 4s. was fixed originally when the average cost of maintenance would be from 8s. to 9s. 567W whereas it is now four times the amount, and in addition the establishment and other charges included in the precepts received by guardians from county councils increase considerably the amount of 35s. weekly, and protesting most strongly against these increasing burdens without some adequate or comparative increase in the amount of the grants allowed and pressing that some definite action be taken by the Government to make some recompense and appease the indignation caused by such increasing charges on the rates; and whether he can indicate the intentions of the Government respecting the same?
§ Dr. ADDISONI have received a copy of this Resolution. As I stated in reply to numerous questions asked last Session on this subject, it would not be practicable, in view of the contemplated reform of the Poor Law, to deal with this particular matter at the present time.