§ 120. Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Health the average period of time which elapses before mental patients are discharged after they have been recommended for release by the visiting magistrates of mental institutions.
§ Mr. BevanI have no general statistics but if my hon. Friend will give me particulars of any cases in which there seems to have been delay I will make inquiries.
§ 121. Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Health how many persons are now de- 219W tained in mental institutions who have not yet been certified; and what steps are being taken to release them in order to make room for those people who are awaiting admission.
§ Mr. BevanIn institutions under the Lunacy and Mental Treatment Acts, the only patients not certified are voluntary patients and these, in fact, are not detained. There are in some mental deficiency institutions a few elderly patients who have not been certified and a certain number of children sent there under Section 15 of the Mental Deficiency Act, 1913, as "places of safety" pending the presentation of petitions for orders authorising their detention. I regret that information is not available as to the numbers involved.