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Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984

Volume 164: debated on Thursday 11 January 1990

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To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance he plans to issue on the grounds on which a patient can be detained under section 18 of the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 and to clarify section 20(1)(b) of that Act.

Guidance on the compulsory detention of patients under part V of the 1984 Act is contained in a code of practice currently lying before Parliament in terms of section 119 of the Act.I am considering separately the question of clarification of section 20(1)

(b) in the light of the circumstances of a particular case which the hon. Member has drawn to my attention and hope to reach conclusions shortly.