§ Mr. K. Robinson(by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Health why he is unable to provide hospital accommodation and treatment for Peter David Hastings, who was sentenced at 937 Nottinghamshire Quarter Sessions last week to five years' imprisonment in spite of a medical report stating he was mentally sick and despite the court's expressed willingness to make a hospital order under the Mental Health Act, 1959, had accommodation been available.
§ The Minister of Health (Mr. Enoch Powell)I am inquiring into the circumstances in which the availability of suitable accommodation for this type of patient was not brought to the knowledge of the court.
§ Mr. RobinsonI am grateful to the Minister for inquiring into this case, but will he not say, in the meantime, that when a man is mentally sick a prison sentence must never be accepted as a substitute for hospital treatment? Will he also consult his right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to see what can be done to remedy this very serious injustice?
§ Mr. SpeakerThe last part of the question is out of order if addressed to the Minister of Health. The rest may be allowed.
§ Mr. RobinsonI was thanking the Minister of Health for making inquiries. Will he also confer with his right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to see what can be done to set right this injustice and to get the man the hospital treatment he needs?
§ Mr. PowellBefore I say any more I should like to know the result of my inquiries into this particular case and to see what, if anything, it throws up for action.
§ Mr. PagetDoes the right hon. Gentleman agree—and I see that the Attorney -General is here, also—that it makes one very anxious indeed to hear of a prison sentence of a determinate and long length being used as a substitute for hospital when everybody agrees that hospital is desirable? That being so, I do not know whether the Attorney General or anybody else can help us or not—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The question must be out of order, addressed to the Minister of Health.