§ Mr. Grenfellasked the Minister of Health, whether, with a view to preventing injustice and enlightening the public as to the powers conferred by the Lunacy Act, 1890, for intervention on the part of friends as well as relatives, he will take immediate steps to ensure that Sections 22 and 79 are posted up in the waiting-rooms of all infirmaries and lunacy institutions to which visitors resort, and to restrict the power of constables to arrest without warrant any person suspected of insanity?
§ Sir K. WoodI doubt whether any advantage would be secured by posting up notices regarding Section 22. As regards Section 79, I would refer the hon. Member to the replies previously given him upon the subject. The situation is, I think, adequately met by the existing rule which requires the managers of very institution on the admission of every rate-aided person to send a notice embodying the substance of Section 79 of the Lunacy Act to all persons whose names appear as relatives or friends of the patient on the statement of particulars accompanying the reception order. With regard to the provisions of the Lunacy Act which require the police to apprehend any person deemed to be of unsound mind who is wandering at large, I do not consider that any modification of the existing law is desirable.