Oral Answers to Questions — Scotland – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 28 July 1959.
Dr Dickson Mabon
, Greenock
12:00,
28 July 1959
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the present procedure for certification of lunacy; and what consideration he is giving to some Amendment of the method.
Hon. John Maclay
, Renfrewshire West
I am actively considering the recommendations made by the Committee of the Scottish Health Services Council for changes in the law in this and other respects.
Dr Dickson Mabon
, Greenock
Does the Secretary of State realise that many doctors are very concerned about this matter, particularly about the actual form itself which, in the circumstances of modern treatment, does not allow enough space to provide all the details for certification, and some doctors are finding, because they cannot get in contact with the various officers of the district council concerned, that they are having to look after dangerous patients and mentally sick patients who ought to be in institutions without the several days' delay resulting from this gap in the certification procedure?
Hon. John Maclay
, Renfrewshire West
As the hon. Gentleman knows, we have had very important Reports on this matter and discussions with the various interested bodies. All these matters are being studied.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
