§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone)My Lords, I rise to move that this Bill be now read a second time. It is a pure consolidation Bill. It brings together the law relating to mentally disordered persons. The principal Act is the Mental Health Act 1959. Over the years numerous, if fairly minor, amendments have been made to that Act by subsequent legislation, and more recently the Mental Health (Amendment) Act 1982 made extensive textual amendments to the 1959 Act as well as introducing new provisions relating to the treatment and discharge of mental patients. This is accordingly a good moment to consolidate. If your Lordships agree to the Second Reading of this Bill, it will be referred in the usual way to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read a second time.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ On Question, Bill read a second time, and referred to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills.