HC Deb 09 December 1976 vol 922 cc344-5W
Mr. Whitehead

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many applications have been made to a mental health review tribunal under Section 26 of the Mental Health Act 1959 in each year since 1948;

(2) how many applications have been made to a mental health review tribunal under Sections 60 and 65 of the Mental Health Act 1959 in each of the years since 1959;

(3) what was the outcome of the applications to the mental health review tribunal in each year since 1959 under (a) Section 26 of the Mental Health Act 1859, and (b) Sections 60 and 65 of the Mental Health Act 1959;

(4) in how many cases in each year since 1959 a recommendation for release made by a mental health review tribunal has been (a) accepted by the Secretary of State, and (b) rejected by the Secretary of State.

Mr. Ennals

Mental health review tribunals were set up under the Mental Health Act 1959. They came into operation on 1st November 1960. Table 1 gives figures of applications made to mental health review tribunals since their inception for patients detained under Section 26 or Section 60 without restrictions under Section 65, together with the number of cases in which the tribunals directed discharge. Separate figures for the respective sections are not readily available.

Patients detained under Section 60 who are subject to the restrictions in Section 65 may not make application to a tribunal but may, at intervals, require my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to refer their case under Section 66(6) for advice. Table 2 shows the numbers of references made on such request—assigned to the year during which the request was

TABLE 1. APPLICATIONS MADE TO MENTAL HEALTH REVIEW TRIBUNALS
Period Valid applications (Section 26 and Section 60) Applications determined (Section 26 and Section 60) Discharged directed
1st November 1960 to 31st December 1961 901 741 86
Year ending 31st December 1962 1,020 719 71
Year ending 31st December 1963 1,250 1,157 161
Year ending 31st December 1964 1,101 960 122
Year ending 31st December 1965 1,107 933 122
Year ending 31st December 1966 1,058 913 122
Year ending 31st December 1967 1,137 942 132
Year ending 31st December 1968 958 826 117
Year ending 31st December 1969 948 807 168
Year ending 31st December 1970 841 732 132
Year ending 31st December 1971 740 647 118
Year ending 31st December 1972 753 662 101
Year ending 31st December 1973 676 563 94
Year ending 31st December 1974 579 560 110
Year ending 31st December 1975 483 435 60
Note: Up to 1968 the figures included applications in respect of Wales: from 1969 onwards Wales is excluded.

TABLE 2. REFERENCES TO A MENTAL HEALTH REVIEW TRIBUNAL REQUESTED UNDER SECTION 66(6) AND (7) OF THE MENTAL HEALTH ACT 1959 (ENGLAND AND WALES)
(1) References made (2) Discharge advised (3) Discharge accepted (4) Discharge rejected (5)
1st November 1960 to 1961 159 10 8 2
1962 153 9 7 2
1963 141 4 4
1964 186 12 8 4
1965 222 13 12 1
1966 281 7 4 3
1967 303 24 19 5
1968 340 21 18 3
1969 327 36 28 8
1970 337 41 31 10
1971 363 40 29 11
1972 346 32 13 19
1973 371 50 30 20
1974 379 46 25 21
1975 328 35 24 11
Column 5 includes where the Home Secretary, though rejecting the specific advice for discharge nevertheless felt able to agree to some other course such as transfer to another hospital.
Advice submitted by tribunals may also include recommendations or comments on matters other than discharge, including the suitability of the patient for transfer to another hospital or for termination of the restrictions.

Forward to