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29
occupation as was possible, and suitable cases under guardianship were reviewed,
and where possible, steps were taken to arrange some form of training or occupation
if that was not already being provided. Particulars as to the steps in contemplation
with a view to extending the existing facilities for the training or occupation of
defectives under supervision are given later in this report. (See paragraphs 32 to 37,
post.)
12. Section 9 relates to the determination of residence. If a defective is an
inmate of an institution for lunatics, a certified institution, approved home or other
public or charitable institution at the time when a detention order is made, he is
deemed to have resided in the place which was his place of residence immediately
before he was received into the institution or home. The Council had sought, though
unsuccessfully, to secure an amendment of this section, to make it plain that
responsibility for maintenance should rest with the local authority for the area in
which was the ordinary place of residence of the defective before reception into the
institution from which the transfer took place. But it is recognised that the section,
in its present form, has been helpful in certain cases in which, in the absence of the
new provision, the Council might have been saddled with responsibility.
Place of
residence.
13. sections 3, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 11 are of minor importance and ao not call tor
comment here.
Other
sections of
the new Act.
Ascertainment.
14. During 1928, the Council's duty to ascertain what persons in London
were defectives within the meaning of the Mental Deficiency Acts, 1913 to 1927,
and were subject to be dealt with under those Acts, was discharged as fully as
nossible.
15. The cases of which the Council received information during the year
ended 31st December, 1928, were:—

Number of
cases of which
information
was received.
16. The foregoing table shews that the most fertile source of information
of cases of mental defect in London is the local education authority. Co-operation
between metropolitan police court magistrates and prison medical officers and
the Council secures that most cases of mental defect who are charged with criminal
offences are brought to the notice of the Council, to be dealt with under the Mental
Deficiency Acts. The miscellaneous sources include almoners of general hospitals,
secretaries of various charitable organisations, welfare workers and many private
individuals (for the most part parents or relatives). The number of cases of which
information is received from poor law authorities is not great. Many cases of
mental defect are dealt with by poor law guardians themselves, either under the
Lunacy Acts or under the Metropolitan Asylums (Mentally Defective Persons) Order,
1911, and are sent to the institutions managed by the Metropolitan Asylums Board.
This state of affairs will be changed when the provisions of the Local Government
Act, 1929, come into operation at 1st April, 1930.
Sources of
information.
17. The total number of cases ascertained by the Council as being subject to be
dealt with, or who might become subject to be dealt with, up to 31st December,
1928, was 9,635. This figure, which excludes all cases of mental defect who are
Number of
cases
ascertained.