Lords resumes detailed check of Mental Health Bill

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 frequent 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.

Line by line examination  

Committee stage is a thorough examination of the individual parts (clauses) of the bill. 

Starting from the front of the bill, members work through the clauses in order, considering changes (amendments) to the wording or proposals for new clauses. 

Four days of committee stage have been scheduled so far: 

• Tuesday 14 January
• Monday 20 January
• Wednesday 22 January
• Monday 27 January.*

(*scheduled is subject to change).

Proposed changes

Members speaking on day two of committee stage have put forward amendments (PDF) to the bill on subjects including:

• responsibility of local authorities regarding care for autistic people
• training for the diagnosis and treatment of people with learning disabilities
• non-drug-based medical treatments.

How to follow

• Watch live on Parliament TV.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript (available from three hours after the debate).

Explore further information

Find out more about the bill in the House of Lords Library briefing.

What's happened so far?

Committee stage day one: Tuesday 14 January

Members speaking on day one of committee stage put forward amendments (PDF) to the bill on subjects including:

• patient communication difficulties
• housing needs as part of treatment reviews
• care reports for young people with learning disabilities.

Catch up

• Watch the Parliament TV recording - part one and part two.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript - part one and part two.

Second reading

Second reading, a full debate on the key principles of the bill, took place on  Monday 25 November 2024.

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