Mental Health Bill [HL]

My Lords, again, I thank all noble Lords who have helped us to find solutions to the difficult issues raised in this House and in the other place. I am very pleased that there has been recognition of all the work that has been done since this House last considered the Bill. As the noble Earl, Lord Howe, said earlier, much has been done, individually and collectively, to improve it. As the noble Lord, Lord Williamson, said, however, current provision for mental health patients has also been improved, which is important. I well understand the disappointment expressed by the noble Baroness, Lady Howarth, about the timescale for age-appropriate treatment. Sadly, she did not mishear me; I did say that the provision would not operate fully—I stress fully—until about April 2010. We will implement it gradually, so I hope that ultimately she will not be too disappointed. I hope that I can reassure the noble Earl, Lord Howe, that ““manifestations”” has no particular clinical meaning. The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as, "““the demonstration, revelation, or display of the existence, presence, qualities, or nature of some person or thing””." So although the two words could mean the same thing, ““signs”” has a more limited and specialist meaning, so using it would risk ambiguity in the way that the use of the word ““manifestations”” would not. I hope that that has reassured the noble Earl. Clearly it has not.