Mental Health Bill [HL]

Debate between Baroness Merron and Baroness Buscombe

Report stage
Monday 31st March 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I note what the noble Baroness has said. We have discussed these issues a number of times in the Chamber and outside. On her second point, the situation is as I have outlined, and I do not feel I should go further today. These are the points I wish to bring before your Lordships’ House. I am happy to take up the points she raised separately. However, on her point about the exact details of the meeting, to be quite honest I cannot give that level of detail. I am very happy to find out more from my officials. The noble Baroness originally asked whether there had been a meeting, and the answer is yes.

[Baroness Buscombe (Con)]

My Lords, the Minister will know that I pledged at the very beginning, before the Bill came to this House, that I would do all I could to help its passage. I made that pledge to the Secretary of State. Given the continued conflict, as we see it, with the Children Act, would the Minister be prepared between now and Third Reading—rather than us dividing the House on this later—to have a little more discussion on this issue? We discussed it at great length during our inquiry into the draft Mental Health Bill. To us, it is a significant point that does not appear to have been properly resolved. In wanting to support the Government in making sure, as my noble friend has said, that they are not opening themselves to legal challenge, and to ensure a safe passage of the Bill, can I put that possibility to the Minister?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I am grateful to the noble Baroness, not least because she has also given me a bit of time to add to my earlier answer to the noble Baroness, Lady Berridge, about the meeting with the lead of the AMHP Leads Network last November. That meeting took place after the Bill was published.

On the point the noble Baroness raised, whether the House will be divided will be a matter for the noble Baroness, Lady Berridge, and others to decide, but I am always happy to have discussions. If the noble Baroness wishes to do that, I will be very pleased to, as always.