Mental Health Bill [HL]
6:33 pm
Earl Howe (Shadow Minister, Health; Conservative)
My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for his reply, although it was disappointing. My fear here is that the Government are in danger of entering a minefield, if they ignore the human rights traps which they have set themselves. We would do well to listen to the noble Lord, Lord Carlile, whose expertise on these issues is undoubted—and I am sorry that the Minister is unable to appreciate the risks that I see in having an open-ended provision for conditions to be attached without qualification. For the reasons I stated, I believe that that could lead to some very unfair situations arising.
I am extremely torn as to what to do, but I believe that the issue is sufficiently important for me to invite the House to give its opinion.