§ 26. Dr. D. Johnsonasked the Minister of Health if he will enumerate the persons or official bodies to whom an involuntary patient in a mental hospital is allowed to address unopened and unsupervised correspondence.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodThese are set out in Section 41 (1) of the Lunacy Act, 1890, and I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.
§ Dr. JohnsonMay I ask my right hon. Friend if the detained person's Member of Parliament is on that list?
§ Mr. MacleodNo, he is not, but it has always been the custom that letters to Members of Parliament should be forwarded.
§ Dr. JohnsonWill my right hon. Friend make such an inclusion in the list?
§ Mr. MacleodThere is no immediate prospect of legislation in that field and I am not sure that it would be a suitable subject for legislation, but when the Royal Commission reports, perhaps in a few months' time, this is a matter which might well be considered.