Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the independent review of mental health legislation will review those sections of the Mental Health Act 1983 that apply to (1) prisoners, and (2) those charged with offences.

The terms of reference of the Independent Review of the Mental Health Act ask the review to identify issues across the breadth of the Act and associated practice, including those elements relating to prisoners and those charged with offences. In particular, the terms of reference highlight stakeholder concerns about ‘the time required to take decisions and arrange transfers for patients subject to criminal proceedings’.