Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Mental Health Act Reform

Tuesday 16 March 2021 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government is working to modernize the Mental Health Act 2007 to ensure appropriate care for patients.
  • The consultation on Mental Health Act reforms is open and inviting input from service users, carers, and professionals.
  • Reforms aim to enhance the role of the justice system in protecting vulnerable individuals, including through better access to the Mental Health Tribunal.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 James Davies Con
Mental Health
Context

The question arises from a need to address concerns about the adequacy and effectiveness of the current mental health legislation in protecting vulnerable individuals and ensuring appropriate care.

Question

What steps the Government are taking to reform the Mental Health Act 2007 so that it ensures patients receive the right care in the right setting at the right time?

Answer from Robert Buckland

We are determined to work across Government to modernise the Mental Health Act 2007 so that it ensures patients receive the right care in the right setting at the right time. Prison should be a place for rehabilitation, not a convenient holding pen for those people for whom mental health is the primary driver of their offending.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific steps or timeline for reforming the Mental Health Act 2007

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Q2 Suzanne Webb
Mental Health
Context

The question addresses the need for transparency and public involvement in the process of reforming mental health legislation.

Question

What is the timetable for the Mental Health Act consultation and how can interested parties participate?

Answer from Robert Buckland

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for her continuing interest in this important process. We are consulting widely on these proposed reforms, including service users, carers and professionals, to ensure that we get this once-in-a-generation opportunity right. The consultation is now available on the gov.UK website, and will close on 21 April.

Answered
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Q3 James Davies Con
Justice & Courts Mental Health
Context

The question focuses on the intersection between mental health policy and criminal justice, specifically how proposed reforms will address societal protection for vulnerable individuals.

Question

Will the Secretary of State explain how reforms of the Mental Health Act will strengthen the role that the justice system plays in protecting society's most vulnerable, both in north Wales and across the country?

Answer from Robert Buckland

I am very grateful to my hon. Friend who, from his professional experience, has a great deal of expertise and knowledge in this area. Among other reforms, we want, in particular, to increase patient access to the Mental Health Tribunal, which provides vital independent scrutiny of detention orders. We wish to expand its powers so that it plays a greater safeguarding role. Health policy is devolved to Wales, so it will be for the Welsh Government to decide whether they wish to join the UK Government on many of our reforms in the White Paper, and we will continue to work closely with them in order to secure that partnership.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a direct answer on how reforms strengthen the role of justice system specifically for north Wales or across the country

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