Written question asked by Tim Loughton (Conservative) on Friday, 24 March 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 28 March 2006. It was answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Labour) on Tuesday, 18 April 2006 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Mental Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she plans to conduct a consultation exercise on her new mental health proposals prior to their publication; and what consideration she has given to those who will be consulted.

Answer: We have spent the last seven years consulting on possible changes to the Mental Health Act 1983 and there has been pre-legislative scrutiny. The changes that we are now planning to make to the Mental Health Act 1983 are within the wide range of issues that we have previously consulted on.We made a commitment last year to extend consultation for the race equality impact assessment. There are no current plans for other formal consultation exercises.

Secondary information