§ Mr. Stan Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he has been able to assess the value of the work of the north-west region Mental Health Act commission following its first year of operation;
(2) if it is his intention to centralise the secretariat of the Mental Health Act commission;
(3) whether he proposes to change the existing adminstrative arrangements for the Mental Health Act commission regarding the maintenance of an adequately staffed regional office in the north-west;
(4) whether he will consider extending the role of the Mental Health Act commission to include the investigation of complaints from informal patients, particularly those who are effectively detained though still informal and those who complain about alleged coercive or restrictive practices.
§ Mr. John PattenI shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Stan Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what special hospitals are covered by the north-west region of the Mental Health Act commission.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeMoss Side hospital and Park Lane hospital.
§ Mr. Stan Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the annual budget of the Mental Health Act commission is expended on section 58 second opinion medical fees.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeExpenditure on second opinion medical fees is currently running at about 14 per cent. of the commission's annual budget.
§ Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the preparation of the code of practice by the Mental Health Act commission; and when he intends to publish it.
§ Mr. John PattenI shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.