Suicide and Attempted Suicide

HC Deb 24 July 1958 vol 592 cc646-7

3. Mr. K. Robinson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has yet reached a conclusion on the desirability of amending the law relating to suicide and attempted suicide; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. R. A. Butler

No, Sir. My study of this question suggests that in its practical aspects the problem is largely one of ensuring that those who need care or treatment to prevent them from endangering themselves or others in fact receive it. In general, where this can be done without the intervention of the courts proceedings are not taken, but there is a residue of cases in which the person concerned cannot be given, or will not accept, care or treatment without the intervention of the courts. I shall continue to study this aspect of the matter and I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health upon it.

Mr. Robinson

Is not the right hon. Gentleman taking rather a long time to reach a conclusion on a matter where the overwhelming weight of opinion is in the direction of reform? If the Government are not prepared to take the initiative in this matter, can he say what would be their attitude towards the initiative being taken by a private Member?

Mr. Butler

I cannot state what my attitude would be towards the initiative of a private Member until I know the nature of that initiative. I do not know whether the hon. Member is aware that the Joint Committee of the British Medical Association and the Magistrates' Association has commended the law and practice in Scotland in this matter. The reason I am not going any further in answer to the hon. Gentleman is that we are at present carefully considering that with a view to seeing what we might do about it.

Mr. Royle

Will not the right hon. Gentleman hold out a little more hope in this matter, particularly as involved and responsible organisations are taking the view that they are? Cannot we get more in line with other countries which never regard attempted suicide as a criminal matter? Cannot the right hon. Gentleman hold out more hope than he has indicated at the moment?

Mr. Butler

It so happens that in 1956, the last year for which I have figures, proceedings were taken in 613 cases of attempted suicide out of a total of over 5,000, and only 6.7 per cent. of these proceedings resulted in sentences of imprisonment, and there is a certain limit to that. But I am considering the whole question in the light of what I have said to the hon. Member for St. Pancras, North (Mr. K. Robinson).