Mental Health (Discrimination) Act 2013
| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| Long title | An Act to make further provision about discrimination against people on the grounds of their mental health. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 2013 c.8 |
| Introduced by | Gavin Barwell MP (Commons) Lord Stevenson of Coddenham (Lords) |
| Territorial extent | United Kingdom |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 28 February 2013 |
| Other legislation | |
| Relates to | |
Status: Current legislation | |
| History of passage through Parliament | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
The Mental Health (Discrimination) Act 2013 (introduced into Parliament as the Mental Health (Discrimination) (No. 2) Bill)[1] is an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom introduced to the House of Commons by Gavin Barwell, the Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for Croydon Central.
Legislative passage
[edit]The bill passed its House of Commons second reading on 14 September 2012.[2][3]
Provisions
[edit]There are four sections of the act.
Section 1 ("Members of Parliament etc") removes from the Mental Health Act 1983 the provision that disqualifies from the House of Commons a member sectioned for over six months under that Act.[4] Section 2 ("Jurors") qualifies the restrictions of jury members who are receiving mental health treatment. Section 3 ("Company directors") modifies regulations in relation to the employment of director's appointments.[4] The final section gives the Secretary of State power to determine when the section relating to juries take effect; the other provisions came into force with royal assent.
Other developments
[edit]At the same time as the legislation was being passed the Commons Members Estimate Committee approved funding for mental health services to be provided for members of Parliament.[5]
Reception
[edit]The then Leader of the Opposition, Ed Miliband, said the bill would bring public understanding of mental health "into the 21st century".[6] The Government supported the legislation.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ Text of proposed bill Parliament.uk
- ^ Stages of Bill Parliament.uk
- ^ MPs back health discrimination Bill[dead link] Press Association
- ^ a b "'Discriminatory' ban on MPs with mental health issues to be axed". BBC News. 14 September 2012. Archived from the original on 16 September 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
- ^ "Mental health treatment funding approved for MPs". BBC News. 13 February 2013. Archived from the original on 11 March 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
- ^ "Mentally ill to be allowed to become MPs, serve on juries and be company directors". The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ Jowit, Juliette (14 June 2012). "Mental health problems no longer a bar to becoming an MP". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 3 May 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
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