HL Deb 14 October 2003 vol 653 c99WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will amend the Mental Health Tribunal Rules (Northern Ireland) 1986 in the light of the declaration of incompatibility made by the English Court of Appeal in R (H) v London North and Eastern Region Mental Health Review Tribunal (2002) QB1. [HL4324]

The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos)

There are no plans, at present, to amend either the Mental Health Tribunal Rules (Northern Ireland) 1986 or the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986. However, a review of mental health legislation is being undertaken as part of the wider review of mental health and learning disability (Northern Ireland) currently under way. One of the issues, which the review will be considering, is the compatibility of the Mental Health Order with the European Convention on Human Rights.