MENTAL INCAPACITY

Early day motion 1183, tabled 23 April 2002 by Andrew Dismore (Labour). Signed by 112 members.

That this House calls for statutory safeguards for people who do not have the mental capacity to make decisions as a result of disability or injury; welcomes the Government's commitment to reform in this area contained in the 1999 White Paper, Making Decisions, while regretting that it has failed to find time to introduce an actual Bill; notes that an Incapacity Act has already been passed in Scotland; further notes the comments of Lord Justice Brooke in the Court of Appeal on 22nd October 2001 that the courts have found it necessary to invent procedures and to revive principles of common law in an attempt to plug gaps until such time as Parliament enacts a new, widely embracing, statutory rights based scheme; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to introduce a Mental Incapacity Bill at the earliest possible opportunity.

Signatures by party: Labour 69, Liberal Democrat 23, Conservative 8, Labour/Co-operative 5, Plaid Cymru 4, UUP 2, DUP 1.