§ 2. Mr. Thurnhamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the criteria for registering private mental health facilities with the National Health Service.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe criteria for registering a private mental nursing home are for the district health authority in whose area the home is located to determine, having regard to the provisions of the Registered Homes Act 1984, the Nursing Homes and Mental Nursing Homes Regulations 1984 and the Mental Health Act 1983.
§ Mr. ThurnhamIs my right hon. and learned Friend satisfied that existing codes of practice are of a sufficiently high standard, without being too strict, and that they can be enforced without new legislation?
§ Mr. ClarkeYes, Mr. Speaker, I am. If there is a dispute between a proprietor and a local health authority the matter can be determined on appeal to the registered homes tribunal, which the Government set up under the legislation that I have just set out.