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Mental Capacity (Duty to Assess)
08 July 2026
Lead MP
Chris Coghlan
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
Mental Health
Other Contributors: 1
At a Glance
Chris Coghlan raised concerns about mental capacity (duty to assess) in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Mr Coghlan moved a Bill requiring public officials to assess the mental capacity of individuals when there is any indication of impairment or disturbance in their mind or brain functioning, and where concerns have been raised by someone interested in the person's welfare. He highlighted cases such as Christopher Laskaris, Charlie Gooding, and Harley Watson, all victims of preventable deaths due to failures in applying the Mental Capacity Act 2005. The Bill seeks to mandate compliance with existing safeguards in the code of practice.
Chris Coghlan
Lab
Gedling
The Bill aims to prevent future deaths by ensuring that public officials assess mental capacity when there is any indication of impairment or disturbance, and where concerns have been raised. It emphasises the importance of safeguarding vulnerable individuals like Christopher Laskaris, Charlie Gooding, and Harley Watson. The speaker commended three mothers for their courage in advocating for this change.
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Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About House of Commons Debates
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