Mental Health Bill debated in the Lords
26 November 2024
Members of the House of Lords discussed the main objectives of the Mental Health Bill at second reading on Monday 25 November.
The Mental Health Bill seeks to amend the Mental Health Act 1983. Changes proposed in the bill include:
- Tightening the detention criteria in the 1983 Act and providing for more frequents reviews.
- Limiting the period that people with autism or a learning disability can be detained.
- Removing prisons and police stations as 'places of safety' in the Act.
Debate on the draft law
During second reading, members discussed the main topics in the bill and drew attention to specific concerns or areas where they believe amendments (changes) are needed.
Baroness Merron, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Patient Safety, Women's Health and Mental Health, opened the debate and responded on behalf of the government.
Members speaking
Contributing members included:
- Baroness Buscombe (Conservative), former chair of the parliamentary joint committee on the draft Mental Health Bill
- Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat), Liberal Democrat spokesperson for health
- Lord Stevens of Birmingham (Crossbench), former chief executive of the NHS
- Lord Touhig (Labour), vice president of the National Autistic Society.
Catch up
- Watch the Parliament TV recording.
- Read the Lords Hansard transcript.
Explore further information
Find out more about the bill in the House of Lords Library briefing.
Next steps
Committee stage, the first chance for line by line examination of the bill, is yet to be scheduled.
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