§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Health under what circumstances two young Salford men, details of whose cases have been sent to him, were certified as mentally deficient and on what date.
§ Mr. Vosper:They were sent to mental deficiency institutions in pursuance of Orders dated 10th December, 1940, and 20th March, 1947, under Sections 5 and 6 of the Mental Deficiency Act, 1913, made by judicial authorities who were satisfied on medical evidence that they were mentally defective within the meaning of the Mental Deficiency Acts.
§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Health if a decision has yet been reached regarding the application of the hon. Member for Salford, East, that the two Salford boys who have been for ten years inmates of a Lancashire institution should be allowed out on licence with a view to their leading a normal community life.
§ Mr. Vosper:The younger brother is not at present regarded as suitable for any form of community care, but the Medical Superintendent is making further enquiries into the possibility of granting licence to the elder brother.
§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Health when the mother's consent was obtained for the older of the two Salford men, details of whose cases have been sent to him, to be sent to the mental institution; and if she was told of the intention to apply for a detention order.
§ Mr. Vosper:The Judicial Authority who made the Order on 20th March, 1947, found that the consent of the mother had been unreasonably withheld.
§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Health when the statutory reconsideration of the cases of both Salford men, details of which have been sent to him, was carried out after they became 21; and if the parents were advised and asked if they wished to be present and make representations.
§ Mr. Vosper:On 11th March, 1952, and 4th June, 1954, respectively. The answer to the second part of the Question is, yes.
54W
§ Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Health, in view of the fact that the Mental Deficiency Act, 1913, Clause 11 (2), provides that an independent medical report can be submitted by the patient himself, what procedure a patient has to adopt in order to get such a report; and how many patients have personally used this method since 1st January, 1950, up to the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. Vosper:It is open to the patient to arrange for such an examination through relatives or friends or, if he knows of a doctor willing to act, to write directly to the doctor. The former is the usual course. The information requested in the second part of the Question is not available.