Lord Bragg attacks Mental Health Bill as 'inhumane, inefficient and unfair'

Melvyn Bragg has launched a blistering attack on the Government over its attempts to bring in "inhumane" and unfair laws that would lead to the mentally ill being locked up rather than treated.

Speaking before moves to force mental health legislation through the House of Commons this week, the broadcaster and Labour peer said: "It would be cowardly of the Government to allow its policy to be driven by tabloid hysteria about the very, very rare, though of course deeply regrettable, incidences of murder and assault committed by people with severe mental health problems. The way to cure that is to improve probation and not resort to lock-them-up legislation, which is inhumane, inefficient and, above, all unfair."

Lord Bragg went on to say: "Mental health problems should be given the same consideration, financing and research as physical problems."

His concerns are shared by mental health campaigners, who fear the legislation will give the authorities a licence to lock people up indefinitely, irrespective of whether they are in need of treatment.

There were angry clashes in the Commons last week, when MPs voiced their opposition to the Government's plans. The House of Lords has tried to soften the Bill with a range of amendments to the more controversial parts.

One of the main concerns is the treatment of children. This newspaper published figures last week from the charity Young Minds which show that 1,000 children a year are admitted to adult mental health wards, putting them at risk of physical and sexual abuse.

Ministers have attempted to block an amendment by the Lords calling for age-appropriate treatment for young people. However, it is understood that Rosie Winterton, a Health minister, will meet child welfare campaigners this week to discuss the lack of provision of child beds.

The Tory Health spokesman, Tim Loughton, described the Government's "stubborn determination" to press ahead with its plans as smacking of "arrogance and paranoia". He said: "Labour backbenchers appear to have been brainwashed into supporting a Bill that has been hijacked by the Home Office."

But it appears that the brainwashing has not been a complete success. A survey by the mental health charity Rethink found that seven out of 10 MPs think the Mental Health Bill should focus on improving services. Only 6 per cent agree with the Government's belief that protecting the public should be the prime purpose of mental health legislation.

Cross-party opposition to the Bill is growing. More than 100 MPs, including dozens of Labour backbenchers, have signed motions expressing their misgivings. There is also deep concern among mental health professionals, including Professor Genevra Richardson of King's College London, who chaired the Government's review of the 1983 Mental Health Act almost a decade ago. She said: "The Government has no business introducing legislation that fails to reflect internationally recognised principles of modern healthcare."

The House of Lords has amended the Bill to include restrictions on so-called "psychiatric Asbos", which peers say should be used only on patients who have a history of refusing to take their medication.

But the Government is seeking to overturn the Lords' changes when the Bill enters committee stage this week. Patricia Hewitt, the Secretary of State for Health, claims that some of the amendments "would damage patients and create the risk of harm to them, their families or the public".

However, Professor Sheila Hollins, the president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said the legislation offered a false sense of security and could send patients "underground", adding: "I don't understand why the Government is not listening to an alliance of 80 organisations representing professional, patient and carer organisations."

Private Medical Cover from £30 per month with Independent Compare