asked Her Majesty's Government:

What functions they envisage for the delivery of mental health services by a local health body under Clause 36 of the Mental Health Bill. [HL702]

We do not envisage any new functions for the delivery of mental health services by a local health board under Clause 36 of the Mental Health Bill, as this clause is intended to make it clear, for the purposes of the Mental Health Act 1983, who the managers are in respect of a local health board.

The current definition of managers of hospitals, which is contained in Section 145 of the 1983 Act, does not include a reference to local health boards. Hospital managers have a variety of functions under the Act and the definition of managers identifies the body or people who are managers of each hospital, depending on who owns or runs it.