Petition Ensure mental health assessments for children are within 4 weeks of GP referral

A group of MPs and members of the House of Lords has published a report looking at the Government's draft Mental Health Bill. They have called for changes to the draft Bill to address rising numbers of people detained under the Mental Health Act and to tackle racial inequalities.

• Read the Committee's report on the draft Mental Health Bill
• Read the report summary
• Read a news story about the report

Specific changes the report calls for include:

• The creation of a new statutory Mental Health Commissioner to monitor mental health reforms
• Including respect for racial equality in the Bill
• Improving how data on detentions under the Mental Health Act is collected and monitored
• Abolishing Community Treatment Orders for civil patients
• Strengthening duties regarding community services for people with learning disabilities and autistic people
• Giving patients who are or have been detained the right to request an advance choice document is drawn up

The report was produced by the Joint Committee on the Draft Mental Health Bill, a cross-party group of MPs and members from the House of Lords that was appointed to consider the Government's draft Bill to reform the Mental Health Act 1983

• Find out more about the committee on their website

What is a draft Bill?

A draft Bill is published to enable 'pre-legislative scrutiny', which is the detailed examination of an early draft of legislation. This is done by a parliamentary select committee before the final Bill is drawn up by the Government.

• Find out more about draft Bills

What happens next?

With the publication of its report the Joint Committee’s work is finished.

The Government now must respond to the committee's report, and draw up a final version of the Mental Health Bill. It is up to the Government when to publish a final version of this Bill, and introduce it in Parliament.

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On 7 June MPs debated mental health treatment and support. This was an opposition day debate on a motion determined by the Labour party.

• Watch the debate
• Read a transcript of the debate

During the debate MPs discussed funding and staffing of mental health services, and access to these services.

What are Opposition Days?

Opposition days are days allocated in the House of Commons for the discussion of subjects chosen by the opposition (non-government) parties.

Read a research briefing by the House of Commons Library to find out more about Opposition Day debates.

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On Tuesday 30 January, MPs took part in a Westminster Hall debate on Children's Mental Health week 2024. During the debate MPs discussed how mental health support for young people could be improved.

• Watch the debate
• Read a transcript of the debate

The debate was led by Dr Rosena Allin-Khan MP. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Maria Caulfield MP, responded to the debate on behalf of the Government.

What is a Westminster Hall debate?

Westminster Hall is the second chamber of the House of Commons. Westminster Hall debates give MPs an opportunity to raise local and national issues and receive a response from a government minister. Westminster Hall debates are general debates that do not end in a vote.

• Find out more about Westminster Hall debates

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