PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Mental Health Act 1983 (14 July 2020)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to reform the Mental Health Act 1983; and whether he plans to make provisions on children's mental health services a central part of those legislative proposals.

Asked by:
Bob Blackman (Conservative)

We have committed to publishing a White Paper which will set out the Government’s response to Sir Simon Wessely’s Independent Review of the Mental Health Act 1983 and pave the way for reform of the Act.

We will publish our White Paper as soon as it is possible to do so. We will consult publicly on our proposals and will bring forward a Bill to amend the Act when parliamentary time allows.

The Independent Review made a number of recommendations around how the law works for children and young people. The Government will respond to these in the White Paper.

The Mental Health Act 1983 covers the assessment, treatment and rights of people of all ages with a mental health disorder. It does not cover the provision of children’s mental health services.

Answered by:
Ms Nadine Dorries (Conservative)
24 July 2020