Speeches by Evans.

“I appreciate the hon. Lady’s insight, both as a politician and as a patient. I guess the Opposition are concerned that there is no explicit duty here, which is why legislating for that is so important. There was a huge number of inquiries about the case from 2011. There have been sufficient changes, but in 2023, as we …”

“I am grateful for the opportunity to speak to clause 10, which addresses the nomination of the responsible clinician under the Mental Health Act. As we have heard, the responsible clinician is a pivotal figure in the operation of the Act, holding substantial legal powers in relation to detention, treatment and discharg…”

“Clause 21 will introduce a statutory duty to provide care and treatment plans for most patients detained under the Mental Health Act in England. It is, in the Government’s own words, a cornerstone of the reform package, so it warrants thorough scrutiny. Under the current legal framework, there is no universal statutory…”

“I appreciate the answer that the Minister gave, but we would like to probe the opinion of the Committee, given the principles that are enshrined in the Bill and childhood trauma is an example of something with a causal factor. Amendment proposed: 44, in clause 8, page 15, line 17, at end insert— “(iii) seeks to minimis…”

“I think I see where the Minister is coming from, but to take the example that he chose last time we spoke about this, there could be someone with a severe eating disorder. At the moment, there are in-patients with an eating disorder whose care is seen as palliative. Part of the problem lies in how we decide what is a r…”

“There are a few questions to be answered. Given the nature of acquired brain injury—for example, the capacity of someone who has had a stroke can fluctuate—it is very hard from a clinical position to know where the benefit of treatment starts or finishes. We must future-proof the Bill. We have an ageing population, so …”

“Clause 11 will introduce new section 56A into the Mental Health Act 1983. The clause represents an important reform to the framework for how treatment decisions are made to detain patients under part IV of the Act. The clause effectively establishes a statutory clinical checklist. It imposes a duty on the approved clin…”

“It is an excellent and eagle-eyed point. I would point to the evidence base that I cited, starting from 1988 onwards. That is three and half decades’ worth of evidence that points to a causal factor. In my clinical background, I have seen patients that I think it relates to. Perhaps I will stand corrected, but I am not…”

“My hon. Friend is a shrewd surveyor of legislation, and even foresees the amendments that I have tabled, which may well expose and shine a little light on something that might make a difference. In essence, he is right: trying to future-proof the Bill, while ensuring that it is robust and applicable, was at the heart o…”

“I will speak to clause 8 first, then work my way through the other provisions in the group. The clause will introduce a statutory requirement that medical treatment under the Act must have a reasonable prospect of therapeutic benefit for the individual. This is a significant and, I believe, welcome development, bringin…”

“If the Minister will forgive me, I was not being facetious when asking for numbers; I was simply using it as an example. I am grateful to his officials for providing the numbers so quickly when I asked for them during the debate on clause 6. When he has the chance, could he write to Opposition Members setting out how t…”

“I rise to speak on an essential aspect of our mental health system: the role of mental health tribunals, and the proposed changes to the grounds upon which they can discharge individuals detained under the Mental Health Act 1983. Each year in England and Wales, about 20,000 people come before a mental health tribunal. …”

“The Minister makes an excellent point about the services that are required, but key to all this is the underlying research. Has research already been commissioned into this? If not, would he look at commissioning in the space of ethnic minorities, the impacts of CTOs and mental health? That might shine a light on what …”

“I will resist the temptation to go back to the start of my speech; I am sure that the Committee’s memories of it will have lasted over our short lunch break. I was saying that although the Government’s reforms are, on the whole, positive, we must remain vigilant. The consideration of risks must be applied carefully and…”

“The hon. Lady is making an excellent speech and an excellent observation, and she clearly understands the rationale for the amendment. I just wonder, given that the use of a CTO is currently a clinical decision, why we find ourselves facing this problem in the first place. Ensuring a review and putting it on a statutor…”

“Yes. As the Minister pointed out on the Committee’s first day, legislation sets the culture. One the main reasons for the Wessely report was the racial disparities that had been found. We still have to look into the cause and effect of that, but one of the big markers was that CTOs were increasing indefinitely and seem…”

“Spot on. The hon. Gentleman will have used them far more than I ever have, and that was exactly the point of them when they were brought in in 2008. The reason they have been so contentious is their misuse, misapplication and ongoing use. That is what we are trying to highlight. With clause 6 the Government are trying …”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Vickers. I thank the Minister for his collaborative tone on some of the difficult amendments that we have discussed. I will open where the shadow Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Melton and Syston (Edward Argar), left us on Second Reading. As …”

“There is quite a lot to unpack in the hon. Lady’s intervention. As I pointed out, reflecting on what the previous Government learned is also important—for example, when considering Wales. Objectively, the data shows that Wales is struggling more than England, and the same is true of Scotland. Wales and Scotland have be…”

“I rise to speak to Liberal Democrat amendments 8, 47 and 9 to clause 4, which seek to expand the scope of the at-risk register, define risk factors and protect children and young people from unnecessary detention under the Mental Health Act. Let me start by acknowledging the intent behind the proposals. There is genuin…”