§ Sir Thomas ArnoldTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish the findings of the health authorities' inquiry into the case of Christopher Clunis.
§ Mr. BowisThe Ritchie report into the care and treatment of Christopher Clunis was published on 24 February.
§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has following the report of the Clunis inquiry to modify(a) her Department's draft circular on the discharge of psychiatric patients from hospital and their continuing care in the community and (b) Government policy on the reduction in the number of psychiatric beds.
§ Mr. BowisOur policy remains to encourage the development in every health district of a comprehensive range of services for mentally ill people, including sufficient in-patient facilities for those who need admission to hospital on either a short term or long term basis.
The draft guidance on the discharge of psychiatric patients is currently being considered in the light both of the comments received during the period of consultation, including the Ritchie report recommendations.