GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION AND THE DRAFT MENTAL HEALTH BILL

Early day motion 600, tabled 10 February 2004 by Tim Yeo (Conservative). Signed by 43 members.

That this House, welcomes the Government's proposals to ensure that future consultations are clear, concise and widely accessible; endorses the decision to guarantee that policy makers give proper feedback regarding the responses received; believes that total transparency in the course of an inquiry is essential; regrets the fact that the Government has failed to publish the 2,000 plus responses to the Draft Mental Health Bill submitted in September 2002; believes the Government is undermining the confidence of voluntary bodies and the public alike through shrouding the responses to the consultation in secrecy; and calls for all responses to the Draft Mental Health Bill to be published immediately as a clear sign of the Government's commitment to follow its new proposals.

Signatures by party: Conservative 39, DUP 2, Independent Conservative 1, Plaid Cymru 1.