Contributions
1,444 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDMental Health Bill [ Lords ] (Fourth sitting)It is an excellent and eagle-eyed point. I would point to the evidence base that I cited, starting from 1988 onwards. That is three and half decades’ worth of evidence that points…12 Jun 2025HANSARDMental Health Bill [ Lords ] (Fourth sitting)Clause 21 will introduce a statutory duty to provide care and treatment plans for most patients detained under the Mental Health Act in England. It is, in the Government’s own…12 Jun 2025HANSARDMental Health Bill [ Lords ] (Fourth sitting)My hon. Friend is a shrewd surveyor of legislation, and even foresees the amendments that I have tabled, which may well expose and shine a little light on something that might…12 Jun 2025HANSARDMental Health Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)Yes. As the Minister pointed out on the Committee’s first day, legislation sets the culture. One the main reasons for the Wessely report was the racial disparities that had been…12 Jun 2025HANSARDMental Health Bill [ Lords ] (Fourth sitting)Clause 11 will introduce new section 56A into the Mental Health Act 1983. The clause represents an important reform to the framework for how treatment decisions are made to detain…12 Jun 2025HANSARDMental Health Bill [ Lords ] (Fourth sitting)I am grateful for the opportunity to speak to clause 10, which addresses the nomination of the responsible clinician under the Mental Health Act. As we have heard, the responsible…12 Jun 2025HANSARDMental Health Bill [ Lords ] (Fourth sitting)I appreciate the hon. Lady’s insight, both as a politician and as a patient. I guess the Opposition are concerned that there is no explicit duty here, which is why legislating for…12 Jun 2025HANSARDMental Health Bill [ Lords ] (Fourth sitting)I appreciate the answer that the Minister gave, but we would like to probe the opinion of the Committee, given the principles that are enshrined in the Bill and childhood trauma…12 Jun 2025HANSARDMental Health Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)Spot on. The hon. Gentleman will have used them far more than I ever have, and that was exactly the point of them when they were brought in in 2008. The reason they have been so…12 Jun 2025HANSARDMental Health Bill [ Lords ] (Fourth sitting)I welcome the Government’s recognition that modern technology can play a valuable role in improving care in the mental health system. The move to allow remote interviews and…12 Jun 2025HANSARDMental Health Bill [ Lords ] (Fourth sitting)I am frantically trying to find the exact point in the explanatory notes—I think it is in either paragraph 114 or paragraph 115—about where the second opinion comes together.…12 Jun 2025HANSARDMental Health Bill [ Lords ] (Fourth sitting)It is a relief that we have not dropped clause 11, an important clause. Equally important is clause 12, on the appointment of a doctor to provide a second opinion. The clause will…12 Jun 2025HANSARDMental Health Bill [ Lords ] (Fourth sitting)I think I see where the Minister is coming from, but to take the example that he chose last time we spoke about this, there could be someone with a severe eating disorder. At the…12 Jun 2025HANSARDMental Health Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)I bow to the hon. Member’s expertise on this; the problem is that all the evidence shows that the police are the first there. I would like to see much more of him and his…12 Jun 2025HANSARDMental Health Bill [ Lords ] (Fourth sitting)I rise to speak to clauses 15, 17 and 18 and Liberal Democrat amendment 13. Clause 15 will amend section 58A of the Mental Health Act 1983 in regard to ECT. It is worth…12 Jun 2025HANSARDMental Health Bill [ Lords ] (Fourth sitting)I would be grateful if the Minister could comment on the certificates being combined. There is a concern, if we go from two certificates to one, that the reason why two…12 Jun 2025HANSARDMental Health Bill [ Lords ] (Fourth sitting)You have actually caught me at a perfect point, Mr Vickers. The concept of therapeutic benefit is central to the second opinion doctor’s assessment. However, in clinical practice,…12 Jun 2025HANSARDMental Health Bill [ Lords ] (Fourth sitting)The Minister makes an excellent point, and that is part of the reason why the Opposition did not want to spring this question on the Government in an amendment or a vote, but…12 Jun 2025HANSARDMental Health Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)The hon. Lady points to the fact that the police are named, as they should be. Imagine if we took out the police completely—whowould then have the power to restrain, restrict and…12 Jun 2025HANSARDMental Health Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)The hon. Lady makes an incredibly important point about the range of people who can and do respond in such cases. The Opposition are not saying that is a problem; we want to…12 Jun 2025