§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) why, in regard to a constituent's allegation that he had been wrongfully detained in a psychiatric hospital in Scotland, forwarded by the hon. Member for Essex, South-East on 21st September, it took three weeks to reply to the effect that the matter was not one for him but for the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland;
(2) whether, in matters touching upon a patient's rights in psychiatric hospitals in Scotland, he will direct that there shall be no undue delay in forwarding replies to hon. Members.
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§ Mr. Harry EwingI understand that the hon. Member mistakenly sent his letter, addressed to the Secretary of State, to his constituent who was a patient in the Royal Cornhill Hospital, Aberdeen. This inevitably delayed the correspondence. When it reached my Department the papers were immediately passed to the Mental Welfare Commission, whose agreement, after due consideration, to investigate the matter was conveyed to the hon. Member in my letter of 12th October.
Every attempt is made by my Department to deal with all hon. Members' correspondence as quickly as possible and there are specific standing instructions to this effect.