B

Baroness Meacher (CB)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 31 March 2025

Debate

Mental Health Bill [HL]

Contribution

My Lords, I rise to speak very briefly to the issue of people with autism and learning disabilities being detained in hospital. Clause 3(4) amends the Mental Health Act to prevent people being detained under Section 3—in other words, for six months—if they have autism or learning disabilities. Should this not also be preventing detention of people with autism and learning disabilities at all, and certainly for 28 days, for example? Limiting this restriction to Section 3 is unhelpful for people suffering with these disabilities. This is a small point to raise with the Minister.

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