Children and mental health legislation

Early day motion 73, tabled 20 January 2020 by Holly Lynch (Labour). Signed by 28 members.

That this House welcomes the announcement in the Queen’s Speech that the Mental Health Act will be reformed; agrees that current legislation is out of step with a modern mental healthcare system and that people must have a service that affords them the dignity and respect that they deserve; further notes that the announcement made no mention of the urgent needs of children; contends that unless their needs are embedded into a new Mental Health Act as a central priority such legislation will be fundamentally flawed; calls on the Government to guarantee that new mental health legislation will focus on children’s needs and protect them, ensure that services are provided by a properly qualified workforce and reflect policies that are informed by the best available evidence; and further calls on the Government to focus on the needs of parents and carers and guarantee to bring forward such legislative proprosals at the earliest possible opportunity.

Signatures by party: Labour 11, DUP 4, Liberal Democrat 4, Scottish National Party 4, Labour/Co-operative 2, Conservative 1, Green 1, Plaid Cymru 1.