Court Diversions Schemes

HC Deb 06 March 1995 vol 256 c50W

Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on court diversions schemes for the mentally disordered.

Mr. Bowis

We encourage the development of court assessment schemes to ensure that defendants who have a mental disorder receive care and treatment from health and social care services where necessary. The specific arrangements to be made locally are a matter for the agencies concerned. There are now over 100 schemes nationally compared with only a handful in 1991. About 50 schemes receive financial support from my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department.