§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients detained under each of the following sections of the Mental Health Act 1959 have applied to mental health review tribunals in each of the last five years for which figures are available: (a) Section 26, (b) Section 60 without restrictions, (c) Section 60 with Section 65 restrictions, (d) Section 71 (e) Section 72 and (f) any other section.
§ Dr. OwenThe number of applications to Mental Health Review Tribunals during the years 1970–74 is as follows:
§ Dr. OwenThe numbers of patients detained under Sections 26 and 60 of the Mental Health Act where discharge was directed by a Mental Health Review Tribunal during the years 1970–74 were:
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1970 … … … … 132 1971 … … … … 118 1972 … … … … 101 1973 … … … … 94 1974 … … … … 110 Separate figures for Section 26 and Section 60 could only be given at a disproportionate cost of time and effort.
I regret that numbers of such patients discharged other than by a tribunal are not available.
The number of patients, detained under other sections of the Act, discharged with the consent of the Home Secretary during the years 1970–1974 are as follows:
Section 60/65 Section 72/74 and earlier equivalents Section 5 and Sch. 1 Criminal procedure (Insanity) Act 1964 and earlier equivalents 1970 … 147 15 30 1971 … 129 20 32 1972 … 91 19 24 1973 … 139 13 33 1974 … 155 19 39 Figures relating to the number of recommendations made to the Home Secretary for the discharge of patients in these categories are not readily available.