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13. The total number of defectives on 31st December, 1929, who had been
ascertained by the Council as being subject to be dealt with, or who might become
subject to be dealt with, was 10,136. This figure, which excludes all cases of mental
defect who were being dealt with by metropolitan poor law guardians, also children
attending the Council's special schools for the mentally defective, shows a ratio of
2.28 per thousand of the population of the County of London as estimated by the
Registrar-General as at midsummer, 1929 (4,430,000).
14. The passing of the Local Government Act, 1929, has provided local
authorities from 1st April. 1930, with an opportunity for securing unified control
of the care and treatment of all mentally defective persons within their respective
areas, irrespective of whether or not those persons are in receipt of public assistance.
Accordingly the Council included in the administrative scheme which it was required
to make pursuant to section 4 of the Act (which has been approved by the Minister
of Health), a declaration that, as soon as circumstances permit, all assistance which
could, after 1st April, 1930, be provided either by way of relief or by virtue of the
Mental Deficiency Acts shall be provided exclusively by virtue of those Acts and
not by way of relief.
15. Following this decision, a survey of the position was made, in preparation
for an exhaustive ascertainment, after 1st April, 1930, of cases of mental defect in
London. It was estimated that it would be necessary to consider individually some
5,000, and perhaps more, cases in institutions provided by the Metropolitan Asylums
Board (not already detained under orders made under the Mental Deficiency Acts),
as well as some thousands in poor law care and in London County mental hospitals.
Thus, probably, between 7,000 and 8,000 cases will need to be subjected to scrutiny,
if not detailed examination and investigation.
Supervision.
16. Arrangements for the supervision in their own homes of those
persons ascertained to be defective and subject to be dealt with, for whom this
measure appears to provide adequate protection or for whom no better means of
care can be furnished, continued to be made through the London Association for
Mental Welfare (but, see par. 22, post).
17. For the financial year ended 31st March, 1930, the Council has paid £2,798
to the Association, for general work undertaken on the Council's behalf (mainly
the supervision of defectives in their own homes), an increase of £440 upon the
payment for the previous year. The increased expenditure is accounted for as
follows:—normal salary increments of the Association's officers, £150; increased
minima of salaries, £60; increased maxima of salaries, £20; one additional worker,
£180; additional administration grant in respect of new occupation centres, £30.
The payment of £2,798 includes consideration for services rendered by the Association
in furnishing (i) reports upon the home circumstances of the relatives of defectives,
required by the visitors of certified institutions in which London cases are maintained
to enable the visitors to perform their duties under section 11 of the Act of 1913,
and (ii) reports as to the progress of defectives who may be absent in London on
licence from certified institutions with a view to ultimate discharge.
18. Friendly visitation has again been afforded by the Association in suitable
cases for defective persons resident in London, after discharge from institutions
or guardianship. No payment has been made by the Council for this work as the
cases are no longer " subject to be dealt with."
19. At 31st December, 1929, the number of cases under statutory supervision
in London was 2,276 (1,091 males and 1,185 females).
Number of
cases
ascertained.
Local
Government
Act, 1929.
Ascertainment
of cases
hitherto
dealt with
by poor law
guardians.
Employment
of the
London
Association
for Mental
Welfare.
Grant made
to the
Association.
Friendly
visitation
or after-care.
Cases
supervised.