§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland who are the current members of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland; what field or category each person represents; and what are the arrangements for appointment of members.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe current membership of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland is:
542W
Current Members Chairman The Hon. Lord McDonald, MC Senator of the College of Justice Full-Time Medical Members
Current Members Dr. Anne N. M. Brittan, MB ChB BL MRCP (Ed) FRC Psych DMP DPA (Vice Chairman) Medical Commissioner Dr. J. M. Loughran, MB ChB FRC Psych DPM Medical Commissioner Part-Time Members Mr. J. S. Murphy, MA Formerly Director of Social Work Dr. M. M. Whittet, OBE MB ChB Psychiatrist, Physician FRCP (Ed & Glas) FRC Psych DPM Superintendent Lt Col R. C. M. Monteith, OBE MC TD DL Farmer. District Council Member Mr. A. F. Rodger, MA PhD LLB Advocate Mrs. A. I. Huggins, MA DSA Regional Council Member Professor Annie Altschul, BA MSc FRCN Professor of Nursing Studies Mr. H. F. Smith, MBE District Council Member. Chairman of a branch of Scottish Society for the Mentally Handicapped Members are appointed by The Queen on the recommendation of the Secretary of State. Since 1973 appointments have been for a four-year period initially, renewable at discretion.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the number of individual complaints to the 543W Mental Welfare Commission in each of the last 20 years; and how many complaints have been rejected each year because they refer to the clinical judgment of doctors.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe Mental Welfare Commission is not required to and does not keep such records and thus the information requested cannot be provided.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many reports have been produced by the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland since its inception; and how many of these have been published.
§ Mr. John MacKaySince it was established in 1962 the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland has produced four reports, all of which have been published.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice on mental health legislation he has received from the Mental Welfare Commission in each of the past 10 years.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe three reports published by the Mental Welfare Commission during the past 10 years have made recommendations about improvements in Scottish mental health legislation. In addition, the commission has offered valuable comments on the consultative paper about proposed changes in the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1960 which was issued in April 1982.