§ Captain LOSEBYasked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that many ex-soldiers of good social position and in no sense dangerous, who owe their state entirely to service during the War, are still confined in pauper lunatic asylums; and if he has considered the possibility of initiating legislation which will render possible more humane and advanced methods of dealing with these men?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONBoth ex-service and civilian patients in mental asylums, as elsewhere, differ in social status. Some of them, though neither dangerous to others nor actually suicidal, are quite unable, on account of their unfortunate mental condition, to look after themselves and cannot otherwise be suitably cared for. I may remind my hon. and gallant Friend that service patients are on the legal footing of private patients, and may, therefore, be removed at the instance of their responsible relatives, unless the medical superintendent certifies that they are dangerous to themselves or others. The point raised in the second part of the question is one for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health.