Mental Health Bill [HL]

My Lords, I believe that the noble Earl expressed concern that the Act talks only about treating disorders, and then talks about symptoms and manifestations. Is that correct? Is he asking whether this is another attempt to detain people with untreatable personality disorders? I am clearly incorrect. I will have either to respond a little later or to write to him about the definition of ““signs”” as opposed to ““manifestations””. A note has been passed to me—magic. It says that ““manifestations”” is an ordinary English word that does not have the special meaning that doctors will give to ““signs””. It will therefore be easier for everyone to understand in practice. It is merely a matter of people’s understanding. There will be no difference between the word ““signs”” and ““manifestations””. It is ultimately simply a matter of people being able to understand what it means. As the noble Lord, Lord Williamson, said earlier, it is very important for the Bill to contain words that everyone can understand. The word ““signs”” rather than ““manifestations”” will therefore be more easily understood by everyone involved.