§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to abolish the Mental Health Act Commission; and if he will make a statement.[106642]
§ Jacqui SmithThe Government is committed to reforming the Mental Health Act 1983 and a Bill will be introduced as soon as Parliamentary time allows. The new legislation will provide for the abolition of the Mental Health Act Commission. As proposed in the Mental Health Bill Consultation Document, published in June 2002, responsibility for scrutinising the use of the compulsory powers in the Mental Health Bill will be given to the planned new health care inspectorate, the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection.
We believe these new arrangements will have several advantages for patients subject to compulsory powers. Concerns about all aspects of a patient's care—legal issues, clinical quality, cleanliness and food standards—will be dealt with by one body. As a larger, more joined-up organisation, the new Commission will have greater influence and will be equipped to tackle identified problems in a co-ordinated way. In this way, it will build on the very good work being done by the Mental Health Act Commission.
§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) pursuant to the oral answer given by the Under-Secretary of State for Health to the hon. Member for Hendon, 18 March 2003,Official Report, column 739, on mental health (Barnet), what effect the reprovision of the acute in-patient service at Barnet will have regarding meeting the Government's targets on mental health single sex hospital accommodation; [107839]
(2) whether the temporary ward at Edgware hospital meets the Government's criteria for single sex accommodation for mental health patients.[107838]
§ Mr. HuttonThe temporary ward at Edgware Hospital meets the Government's criteria for single sex accommodation for mental health patients. The reprovision of the acute in-patient service at Barnet will also be fully compliant with the Government's targets on mental health single sex hospital accommodation.
§ Mr. SimmondsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total expenditure per head for mental health services in each primary care trust was in 2002–03. [108638]
92W
§ Jacqui SmithThe figures for expenditure for 2002–03 are not yet available. Information on the expenditure per head on mental illness by primary care trusts for 2000–01 and 2001–02 have been placed in the Library.
The data related to the commissioning by PCTs of secondary mental illness only; the Department of Health does not have data for primary expenditure in this area.
There are considerable variations in expenditure as different primary care trusts have differing commissioning arrangements for mental illness. Also, some primary care trusts may commission on behalf of others hence increasing their apparent spend. Figures between different primary care trusts and between different years are not therefore directly comparable.