HC Deb 26 January 1959 vol 598 cc840-2

[Queen's Recommendation Signified.]

Considered in Committee under Standing Order No. 84 (Money Committees).

[Sir CHARLES MACANDREW in the Chair]

Motion made, and Question proposed, That, for the purposes of any Act of the present Session to repeal the Lunacy and Mental Treatment Acts, 1890 to 1930, and the Mental Deficiency Acts, 1913 to 1938, and to make fresh provision with respect to the treatment and care of mentally disordered persons and with respect to their property and affairs; and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of moneys provided by Parliament of—

  1. (a) any expenditure of the Minister of Health or a Secretary of State under the said Act of the present Session other than expenditure on grants to local authorities;
  2. (b) any sums required for the payment of fees and expenses to medical practitioners acting under provisions substituted by that Act for the Lunacy (Vacating of Seats) Act, 1886;
  3. (c) any increase attributable to the said Act of the present Session in the sums payable by way of General Grant, Rate-deficiency Grant or Exchequer Equalisation 841 Grant under the enactments relating to local government in England and Wales or in Scotland;
  4. (d) any increase attributable to the said Act of the present Session in the sums payable out of moneys provided by Parliament under any enactment other than the enactments relating to the grants referred to in paragraph (c) of this Resolution.—[Mr. Walker-Smith.]

10.58 p.m.

Mr. A. Blenkinsop (Newcastle-upon-Tyne, East)

I have no desire to delay the Committee, but I wish to ask whether the Money Resolution is sufficiently widely drawn to enable reasonable Amendments to be moved during the Committee stage, particularly regarding the question of making statutory the requirements placed upon local authorities. I assume that is covered by the Resolution, in view of the fact that the Minister has power under the Bill to require local authorities to do this work.

The Minister of Health (Mr. Derek Walker-Smith)

Such things are matters for the Chairman of the Committee, but I apprehend that it would be in order to move to make it a mandatory duty.

Question put and agreed to.

Resolution to be reported.

Report to be received Tomorrow.