asked Her Majesty's Government:What has been the result of monitoring by the Mental Health Commission of paragraphs 18.24 to 18.29 of the Code of Practice issued under Section 118(4) of the Mental Health Act 1983 concerning locked wards and secure areas in psychiatric hospitals.

I understand from the Commission that their recent monitoring has shown an improved awareness in the mental health services of the need for clear and well understood policies in this area.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are considering amending and more widely publicising paragraph 20 of the Code of Practice issued under Section 118(4) of the Mental Health Act 1983 relating to leave of absence granted under Section 17 of the Act, in view of the arrangements reported in the account of the case of Andrew Robinson, a psychiatric patient who committed homicide in 1993.

Paragraph 20.1 of the code states categorically that leave of absence can only be granted by a patient's responsible medical officer. The Mental Health Act Commission is about to publish a Commission Practice Note on Section 17 leave which will emphasise this point. The commission has also been highlighting this matter in its recent visits to hospitals.