HC Deb 18 July 1957 vol 573 cc141-2W
82. Dr. D. Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will include the Criminal Lunatics Act, 1800, the Criminal Lunatic Asylums Act, 1860, the Criminal Lunatics Act, 1883, and the Criminal Lunatics Act, 1884, in the revision of mental health legislation on which Her Majesty's Government propose to embark.

Mr. R. A. Butler

I shall consider how far the principles embodied in the legislative proposals which result from the Government's consideration of the report of the Royal Commission on Mental Health can be reflected in the practice and legislation relating to Broadmoor patients. Broadmoor patients do, however, present special problems. They were not, for that reason, included in the Royal Commission's terms of reference, and it would not in my view and as at present advised be appropriate to combine a revision of the law relating to Broadmoor patients with the revision of mental health legislation arising out of the Royal Commission's Report.