Clause 3
Mental Health Bill [Lords]
4:45 pm
Rosie Winterton (Minister of State (Health Services), Department of Health; Doncaster Central, Labour)
That is an interesting point. I suspect that, because of the way in which the reference to dependence on alcohol or drugs is phrased, we will have been advised that the use of the world “solely” is not necessary. However, I take on board what my hon. Friend has said and I will look into whether it would clarify the point that we are trying to get across, which is, as he has said, that treatment should not be forced on people for dependence alone. I take on board the point that I think he is making about the way in which the Bill reads, and I shall come back to him about that.
As I said, we remain convinced that the exclusion for sexual deviancy should go. Paedophilia and various other paraphilias can constitute mental disorders and there may well be treatment that can be offered. If a person with such a condition meets the criteria for detention under the Act because of the risk to themselves or to others, we believe that it is important that the Act is available. The fact that a mental disorder that can be treated happens to be related to sexual deviancy, or whatever one wants to call it, does not render it somehow not a real mental disorder.