§ Mr. Loveridgeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many offenders were committed under a restriction order, under Section 65 of the Mental Health Act 1959, in each year since its introduction.
§ Mr. AlisonThe relevant parts of the Mental Health Act 1959 came into force on 1st November 1960. The number of persons admitted to hospitals in England and Wales (including the Special Hospitals) under Section 60 of the Act with restriction orders under Section 65 in each complete year was:
1961 153 1962 138 1963 169 1964 185 1965 196 1966 180 1967 271 1968 255 1969 254 1970 278 1971 232
§ Mr. Loveridgeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to alter the legislation under which those known to have committed acts of violence are placed in conventional mental hospitals to the danger of themselves and others.
§ Mr. AlisonI accept that potentially violent patients can create difficulties for some hospitals, but I am not convinced that changes in legislation are either necessary or appropriate to deal with these problems. The Committee on Mentally Abnormal Offenders under the 87W chairmanship of the Lord Butler is, however, considering what changes, if any, are needed in the powers, procedure and facilities relating to the treatment of such offenders.
§ Mr. Loveridgeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the effect of Section 60 of the Mental Health Act 1959 in bringing those with known violent records into conventional mental hospitals; and what has been the comparative increase in the numbers of attacks on nurses and fellow patients since this was brought into effect.
§ Mr. AlisonThe central statistical records do not indicate those persons with violent records admitted under Section 60. An order under this section may not, however, be made unless arrangements have been made for the admission of the offender to hospital. Comparative figures of attacks on nurses and patients before and since the Act came into force are not available.