§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many special hospitals there are in the area covered by the Liverpool office of the Mental Health Act Commission; and if he will list them.
§ Mr. FreemanTwo; Moss Side and Park Lane hospitals.
§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he has any plans to close the Liverpool office of the Mental Health Act Commission;
(2) if he has plans to review the work of the Mental Health Act Commission; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what plans he has to centralise the work of the Mental Health Act Commission.
§ Mr. FreemanWe shall be considering shortly the Commission's review of its functions, organisation, staffing and finance. Centralisation is one of the issues being considered as part of that review. We expect to reach decisions well before the end of the year.
§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last held discussions with the Mental Health Act commissioners in the north-west; and what subjects were discussed.
§ Mr. FreemanWe are in regular contact with the Commission chairman and secretariat, but it has not been the practice to meet commissioners on a regional basis.
§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health why no Mental Health Act commissioners in the north-west were re-appointed this year; and what is the position with regard to re-appointments in other regions.
§ Mr. FreemanThe normal length of appointment as a commissioner is now four years, though some are invited to serve for longer because of the exceptional538W contributions they make. Twenty-nine commissioners appointed by my predecessors complete at least four years in office this autumn, and five have been invited to serve for a further period because of their individual contributions. Two of these are based in the southern region and three in the north eastern region.