Member

The timescales of this Bill are unachievable as things stand. Equally unachievable will be the 48-hour turnaround right through the year, even at Christmas, which would require that panels be established at a time when there is a significant shortage of lawyers, social workers and psychiatrists. The Royal College of Psychiatrists has said that it will not engage and it is profoundly unlikely that there will be any ability to provide such a service as is required by these amendments. In any event, may I ask the Minister and the noble and learned Lord, Lord Falconer, what safeguards exist against coercion when timelines are this compressed? What opportunity will there be for the considered professional assessment that will be necessary?