§ Mr. HesfordTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the report entitled, "Improving Care for Detained Patients from Black and Minority Ethnic Communities", by the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health and University of Central Lancashire. [118416]
§ Mr. HuttonWe welcome this report, which provides detailed information about the care of black and ethnic minority detained patients and which will help to inform the implementation of the National Service Framework for Mental Health. The report will be given careful consideration.
§ Helen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations he has received on the recommendation of the expert committee set up to review the Mental Health Act 1983 that a statutory right to advocacy be created; [117864]
(2) what estimate he has made of the cost of introducing a legal right to an advocate for any person subject to compulsion under the Mental Health Act 1983; [117863]
(3) what research he has commissioned into models of good practice for advocacy schemes following the Review of the Mental Health Act 1983; and if he will make a statement. [117865]
12W
§ Mr. HuttonThe consultation period on the Green Paper "Reform of the Mental Health Act 1983" ended on 31 March 2000. We have received a large number of responses on a wide range of issues in the Green Paper, including advocacy, which we are currently analysing. We will be undertaking work to determine models of good practice for advocacy in due course and will consider questions of practicality and cost in the light of this work and the responses to the Green Paper consultation.