Mental Health Bill [HL]

Lord Davies of Brixton Excerpts

Monday 24th November 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Watkins of Tavistock (CB)]

My Lords, I thank the Minister, officials and Members of the other House for Amendment 12, which will ensure the human rights of patients who are placed in the private sector under NHS contracts. Many of us were concerned about that, but the situation is completely resolved through Amendment 12.

[Lord Davies of Brixton (Lab)]

I had an amendment in the area covered by Amendments 1 to 4 at an earlier stage of the Bill, and I just wanted to put on record my thanks to the noble Baroness, Lady May of Maidenhead, for her tenacious pursuance of this issue, and the discussions which followed. I also want to thank my noble friend the Minister for taking the right step in having a full consultation on the issue. As she said, there are strong views on both sides. There is a need for some change, but clearly, full consultation is the right approach.

Perhaps I can also take the opportunity, even though the issue does not arise directly, to mention again the “Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space” and the fact that although it is not in the Bill, it will be in the MHA code of practice. I just hope we get there sooner rather than later.

[Lord Meston (CB)]

My Lords, I strongly support the position taken by the noble Baroness, Lady Berridge. The question of who should be appointed as a young patient’s nominated person has been thoroughly explored during this Bill in both Houses. Everyone agrees that some clarity is required in an area with a variety of different factual scenarios. Either selection of the nominated person can be left to the discretion of the approved mental health professional, with or without some guidance, or there can be some statement or indication in the Bill of priority or preference as between potential candidates.