HC Deb 02 November 1995 vol 265 cc456-7W
Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many elderly people of pensionable age have made formal complaints of wrongful detention under the mental health Acts in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [40922]

Mr. Bowls

We do not collect this information, but I am advised by the Mental Health Act Commission, which has the statutory duty of protecting the interests of patients detained under the Mental Health Act 1983, that in its experience it is extremely rare for a patient to be detained illegally.