Clause 40 - Codes of practice
Mental Capacity Bill
11:15 am
Mr Tim Boswell (Shadow Minister, Home Affairs; Daventry, Conservative)
I am grateful to the Minister for his response. It was, on the whole, encouraging and consistent with the Department's initiative in publishing the code, which has been valuable to the Committee. There is no doubt about his good intentions.
The only slight warning that I offer the Minister is that there are two layers of potential misinterpretation. The first is the transition from lawyerly language to layperson's language. That might, for example, might centre around the use of the word ''reasonable'', which may mean something different to the Minister, as a
lawyer, from what it means to Committee members such as I, who are not lawyers.
Secondly, there is the transition to a version for people with learning difficulties who require further abridgement. From the occasions on which I have attempted to distil information such as election material, I know how difficult it is to do, but also how important and useful it sometimes is in clarifying concepts. I encourage the Minister to carry on with that, and to make sure that what is proposed is accessible, both in the language used and in the convenience of the format in which the material is assimilated. We encourage him to do that, and will welcome it when he does. In light of the assurances that he has given, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
Amendment proposed: No. 195, in
clause 40, page 22, line 14, at end insert—
'(g) for the guidance for people acting as independent advocates for the purposes of sections 35, 36 and 37.'.—[Mrs. Humble.]
Question, That the amendment be made, put and negatived.
It being twenty-five minutes past Eleven o'clock, The Chairman adjourned the Committee without Question put, pursuant to the Standing Order.
Adjourned till this day at half-past Two o'clock.