HC Deb 05 May 1959 vol 605 c292
Mr. Walker-Smith

I beg to move, in page 30, line 31, to leave out Subsections (1) and (2) and to insert: (1) If on the day on which, apart from this section, a patient would cease to be liable to be detained or subject to guardianship under this Part of this Act, or within the period of one week ending with that day, the patient is absent without leave, he shall not cease to be so liable or subject—

  1. (a) in any case, until the expiration of the period during which he can be taken into custody under section forty of this Act, or the day on which he is returned or returns himself to the hospital or place where he ought to be, whichever is the earlier; and
  2. (b) if he is returned or returns himself as aforesaid within the period first mentioned in the foregoing paragraph, until the expiration of the period of one week beginning with the day on which he is returned or returns as aforesaid.
(2) Where the period for which a patient is liable to be detained or subject to guardianship is extended by virtue of this section, any examination and report to be made and furnished under subsection (3) of section forty-three of this Act may be made and furnished within that period as so extended. This is a drafting Amendment. It substitutes two new subsections for the present subsections (1) and (2). There is no alteration of substance. It has been possible to simplify and improve the wording in several respects by the introduction of the definition of "absent without leave" on page 26, line 34.

Amendment agreed to.