HC Deb 23 February 1971 vol 812 cc297-8
17. Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will initiate an inquiry into the treatment of paranoia.

Mr. Alison

No, Sir. Paranoia is a well known, though rare, condition closely associated with schizophrenia. It appears in varying degrees of severity and a wide range of treatment is available.—[Laughter.] There is a good deal of on-going research mainly under the auspices of the Medical Research Council and in univerities.

Mr. McNair-Wilson

I am not quite sure why hon. Members should find this a subject to joke about. Anybody who has ever met a paranoiac realises that it is a very distressing condition. Does not my hon. Friend think that perhaps the Mental Health Act should be amended in such a way as to allow local authority medical services the power to bring such people into care by a measure of compulsion, particularly when they are no longer able to look after themselves?

Mr. Alison

I will certainly consider my hon. Friend's point. It is very difficult to make clear definitions and the borderline between paranoia and schizophrenia is one of those areas of rather vague definition. But a great deal of research is going on, and I will feed into it the question which my hon. Friend has put to me.

Dr. Miller

Will the hon. Gentleman reconsider this matter? It seems to me to be an admirable area in which an inquiry could be made. Will he also take into account that the inquiry could start in this House, particularly on the benches opposite?

Mr. Alison

The serious point of that supplementary question is covered by my reference to the fact that the Medical Research Council is engaged in inquiries into this subject, wihch is one of its highest priorities.