HC Deb 24 July 1959 vol 609 cc1715-6

Lords Amendment: In page 93, line 33, at end insert: (2A) A person who escapes while being taken to or detained in a place of safety under section one hundred and thirty-four or section one hundred and thirty-five of this Act shall not be retaken under this section after the expiration of the period of seventy-two hours beginning with the time when he escapes or the period during which he is liable to be so detained, whichever expires first.

Mr. Walker-Smith

I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment.

This Clause confers power to retake patients described in Clause 138 (1) if they escape, and these people include people being taken to or detained in a place of safety under the provisions of Clause 134 (1) or Clause 135. Clauses 134 and 135 place a limit of 72 hours on the period for which such people may be detained in a place of safety. But Clause 139, as it left this House, placed no time limit on the period during which they can be retaken after escape.

The Amendment removes this omission by providing in effect that such people may not be retaken after the end of the 72 hours during which they can be detained in a place of safety, or if they escape while being taken there, and before reaching it, after 72 hours from the time of escape. The broad effect is to bring the various procedures into a common line.

Question put and agreed to.

Subsequent Lords Amendments agreed to.