My Lords, it is somewhat intimidating to follow the noble Lord, Lord Patel of Bradford, because he has great expertise. It is also particularly intimidating to speak at this position in the list because many of the points have been made. I shall try not to repeat them, although, as...

My Lords, it is somewhat intimidating to follow the noble Lord, Lord Patel of Bradford, because he has great expertise. It is also particularly intimidating to speak at this position in the list because many of the points have been made. I shall try not to repeat them, although, as...

My Lords, I am pleased that the Government have introduced the Bill to amend the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Mental CapacityAct 2005, although if the briefings that I have received are anything to go by, there is widespread concern about the Bill’s detail, indicating that it will have...

My Lords, I am pleased that the Government have introduced the Bill to amend the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Mental CapacityAct 2005, although if the briefings that I have received are anything to go by, there is widespread concern about the Bill’s detail, indicating that it will have...

Mental Health Bill (HL). Lords Second reading debate. Agreed to on question and Committed to a Committee of the Whole House (HL). (Part 2 of 2)

Mental Health Bill (HL). Lords Second reading debate. Agreed to on question and Committed to a Committee of the Whole House (HL). (Part 2 of 2)

My Lords, I want to declare a number of interests before I make my brief comments about the Bill. I was part of the team that devised the Delivering Race Equality programme already mentioned by the noble Lord, Lord Patel of Bradford. It is worth mentioning the others who have...

My Lords, I want to declare a number of interests before I make my brief comments about the Bill. I was part of the team that devised the Delivering Race Equality programme already mentioned by the noble Lord, Lord Patel of Bradford. It is worth mentioning the others who have...

My Lords, I intend to be relatively brief. I start by saying that I am hugely respectful of the professional staff and voluntary organisations that deliver so much in mental health field I have carefully read all the briefings I have been sent, and, while there is much talk about...

My Lords, I intend to be relatively brief. I start by saying that I am hugely respectful of the professional staff and voluntary organisations that deliver so much in mental health field I have carefully read all the briefings I have been sent, and, while there is much talk about...

My Lords, I welcome the opportunity to debate a new Mental Health Bill purporting to rectify the gross inequalities and disadvantages experienced by people with dementia or learning difficulties identified by the Bournewood case, and which the Mental Health Act Commission discussed more than 20 years ago. That tells you...

My Lords, I welcome the opportunity to debate a new Mental Health Bill purporting to rectify the gross inequalities and disadvantages experienced by people with dementia or learning difficulties identified by the Bournewood case, and which the Mental Health Act Commission discussed more than 20 years ago. That tells you...

My Lords, I declare an interest as president of Mind which has been working for better mental healthcare over the past 60 years. Much has been achieved in mental health awareness and in mental healthcare over the past few years. The stigma is finally showing signs that it will slink...

My Lords, I declare an interest as president of Mind which has been working for better mental healthcare over the past 60 years. Much has been achieved in mental health awareness and in mental healthcare over the past few years. The stigma is finally showing signs that it will slink...

My Lords, there is no doubt that there is much concern in the minds of a large number of professional medical groups, who have written to us about the Bill. Concern has also been expressed in the House this evening. Some people are anxious about what is in the Bill;...

My Lords, there is no doubt that there is much concern in the minds of a large number of professional medical groups, who have written to us about the Bill. Concern has also been expressed in the House this evening. Some people are anxious about what is in the Bill;...

My Lords, I begin by declaring my interests. First, I am chairman of the Mental Health Act Commission. Secondly, I was responsible for leading the development and implementation of the Government’s black and minority-ethnic mental health programme, ““Delivering Race Equality in Mental Health Care””. Through these roles I have both...

My Lords, I begin by declaring my interests. First, I am chairman of the Mental Health Act Commission. Secondly, I was responsible for leading the development and implementation of the Government’s black and minority-ethnic mental health programme, ““Delivering Race Equality in Mental Health Care””. Through these roles I have both...

My Lords, I am more than happy to follow the noble Baroness and her call for advocacy. In a Bill where civil liberties are to be removed, we must make every possible effort to make sure that individuals have that right. It is a point made by many in the...

My Lords, I am more than happy to follow the noble Baroness and her call for advocacy. In a Bill where civil liberties are to be removed, we must make every possible effort to make sure that individuals have that right. It is a point made by many in the...

My Lords, the Bill before us is a very far cry from the first proposals for a new Mental Health Bill—a Bill which was to be comprehensive and would have started almost from scratch on mental health legislation. In 2004, a draft Bill was produced and widely considered. It was...

My Lords, the Bill before us is a very far cry from the first proposals for a new Mental Health Bill—a Bill which was to be comprehensive and would have started almost from scratch on mental health legislation. In 2004, a draft Bill was produced and widely considered. It was...

My Lords, this has been a passionate and interesting debate on a complex and important issue. I pay tribute to all those who work in mental health services and share the views of other noble Lords who have spoken this afternoon about the importance of producing a workable piece of...

My Lords, this has been a passionate and interesting debate on a complex and important issue. I pay tribute to all those who work in mental health services and share the views of other noble Lords who have spoken this afternoon about the importance of producing a workable piece of...

My Lords, as is fitting for a Bill of such importance, this has been a debate of particularly high quality. I begin by thanking the Minister for his lucid explanation of the Government’s policies as reflected in the Bill, and for the very measured tone that he struck when doing...

My Lords, as is fitting for a Bill of such importance, this has been a debate of particularly high quality. I begin by thanking the Minister for his lucid explanation of the Government’s policies as reflected in the Bill, and for the very measured tone that he struck when doing...

My Lords, I am the only speaker from these Benches today because my noble friends Lady Neuberger and Lord Alderdice could not be here for the duration of today’s debate, and my noble friend Lord Carlile of Berriew is not in the country today; he is away on government business....

My Lords, I am the only speaker from these Benches today because my noble friends Lady Neuberger and Lord Alderdice could not be here for the duration of today’s debate, and my noble friend Lord Carlile of Berriew is not in the country today; he is away on government business....

My Lords, the Bill has had a spectacularly long gestation; it has been on the horizon for nine years, which indicates the degree to which it is difficult to legislate in this area. It is important for us to remember what the objectives of the Bill are. The first is...

My Lords, the Bill has had a spectacularly long gestation; it has been on the horizon for nine years, which indicates the degree to which it is difficult to legislate in this area. It is important for us to remember what the objectives of the Bill are. The first is...

My Lords, first I must declare my interests in the Bill. I am a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and a supporter of the Mental Health Alliance which, as the noble Baroness, Lady Bottomley, remarked, is a quite extraordinary united front of nearly 80 mental health service user...

My Lords, first I must declare my interests in the Bill. I am a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and a supporter of the Mental Health Alliance which, as the noble Baroness, Lady Bottomley, remarked, is a quite extraordinary united front of nearly 80 mental health service user...

My Lords, it has been a long process in getting an amended Bill before the House to tackle the inadequacies of existing mental health legislation. I pay tribute to all those who have been involved in scrutiny, working with government to bring the Bill to a state which many Members...

My Lords, it has been a long process in getting an amended Bill before the House to tackle the inadequacies of existing mental health legislation. I pay tribute to all those who have been involved in scrutiny, working with government to bring the Bill to a state which many Members...

My Lords, as the Minister said, the Government are making enormous strides in the development of mental health services. They are spending £1.25 billion more on mental health services now than in 1999, an increase of more than a quarter. Most importantly, access to mental health services is improving with...

My Lords, as the Minister said, the Government are making enormous strides in the development of mental health services. They are spending £1.25 billion more on mental health services now than in 1999, an increase of more than a quarter. Most importantly, access to mental health services is improving with...

My Lords, the journey towards a new Mental Health Act over the past eight years or so has been a long one. I cannot help feeling that, although there have been some interesting steps along the way, the journey has taken us back where we started, with a rather disappointing...

My Lords, the journey towards a new Mental Health Act over the past eight years or so has been a long one. I cannot help feeling that, although there have been some interesting steps along the way, the journey has taken us back where we started, with a rather disappointing...

My Lords, as the noble Lord, Lord Rix, powerfully indicated from his very considerable experience and wisdom in this area, many aspects of the Bill are a disappointment. As he said, it marks the latest stage in a lengthy argument about the purpose of mental health legislation. The decision not...

My Lords, as the noble Lord, Lord Rix, powerfully indicated from his very considerable experience and wisdom in this area, many aspects of the Bill are a disappointment. As he said, it marks the latest stage in a lengthy argument about the purpose of mental health legislation. The decision not...