Lunacy Act, 1890

If settlement cannot be ascertained, a pauper lunatic may be made chargeable to a borough or county.

290.—(1) If a pauper lunatic is not settled in the union from which he was sent to an institution for lunatics, and his settlement cannot be ascertained, and the lunatic was sent from a quarter sessions borough which is free from contributing to the payment of the expenses of pauper lunatics chargeable to the county in which the borough is situate, or from a place not in such a borough, then the relieving officer of the union shall give to the clerk of the local authority within whose area the lunatic is found, ten days’ notice to appear before two justices having jurisdiction within such area, at a time and place to be appointed in the notice.

(2) Upon the appearance of the clerk of the local authority, in person or by deputy, or in case of non-appearance upon proof of due service of the notice, any two or more such justices may inquire into the circumstances of the case, and adjudge the pauper lunatic to be chargeable to the local authority, and may order the treasurer of the local authority to pay to the guardians of any union the incidental expenses of the lunatic, and all moneys paid by such guardians to the treasurer or manager of the institution for lunatics for the expenses of maintenance of the lunatic, and incurred within twelve months previous to the date of the order, and if the lunatic is still in confinement, to pay to such treasurer or manager the expenses of the future maintenance of the lunatic.

(3) Such justices may direct such further inquiries as they think fit to ascertain the union in which any pauper lunatic is settled, and delay their adjudication until after such further inquiries.

(4) Every local authority to whom a pauper lunatic is adjudged to be chargeable may at any time thereafter inquire as to the union in which the lunatic is settled and may procure him to be adjudged to be settled in any union.