§ Mr. MANDERasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that, owing to the shortage of accommodation and treatment for persons suffering from functional nervous disorders, a large number of persons will have to be admitted to asylums and become chargeable to the State; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI am unable to agree that the shortage of the facilities to which the hon. Member refers is such as to result in the admission of a large number of persons to mental hospitals. I have already explained to the hon. Member that under the Mental Treatment Act, local authorities (with whom, and not with the State, rests the financial responsibility for these patients), are given extensive powers to provide for the preventive treatment of incipient mental illness. The position under the Act has been fully explored in a two days' conference with visiting committees, and I do not think that any further action could usefully be taken at present.