Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Independent Review of the Mental Health Act 1983, published on 6 December 2018, what assessment he has made of the finding that a disproportionate number of people from ethnic minorities have been sectioned under the Mental Health Act 1983.

We welcome the final report of the independent review of the Mental Health Act 1983.

One of the reasons the Government commissioned the review was to understand better the reasons behind the disproportionate number of people from black and minority ethnic groups detained under the Act, and for suggested next steps to be recommended.

The Government has already accepted two of the recommendations of the review including the creation of a new role of nominated person, chosen by the patient, to replace the current nearest relative provisions.

We will consider the report and its recommendations in detail and respond in due course. We remain committed to reforming mental health law and will develop and bring forward legislation when Parliamentary time allows.