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go away thinking that that particular argument had ,been wholly accepted.
If I may make one further point, I think that the oble Lord, Lord Belstead, confused the point which the hoble Baroness, Lady Macleod of Borve, made. The noble Baroness referred not to detained patients but to convicted patients. A moment or two ago the noble Lord, Lord Belstead, referred to detained patients. I do not think that we would want to convey the im- pression that there is no difference between the two or between the right to vote of those two groups. They are surely different.
Lord Kilmarnock: My Lords, I am most grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Belstead, for having once again addressed himself to this thorny issue with his usual care. I would also say to the noble Lord, Lord Mottistone, that we are talking about the rights of citizens, not about the rights of another place. I do not think it is out of order in your Lordships' House to talk about the citizens of this country and their rights.
I was also going to say to the noble Baroness, Lady Macleod of Borve, what the noble Lord, Lord Winstanley said to her: that we are talking not only about prisoners transferred to hospital and detained patients but also about informal and unrestricted patients who may well be in special hospitals or places of that nature simply because of lack of provision for them elsewhere in the community. Those are the people whose rights we are striving to restore.
The noble Lord, Lord Belstead, again picked up his broom and used the phrase, "sweeping away ". I hasten to assure him that it is not my intention to sweep anything away. I do not think that this amendment. even in its modified form, is necessarily the right one. What I wanted to do, though, was to prompt the Government into action. The fact remains that, whatever the difficulties which have been pointed out, a major anomaly exists which affects a quite consider- able number of people. In a year when we are thinking about the reform of mental health legislation, which we may not think about seriously for another 20 years, this is a matter to which we should address our minds.
I was glad therefore that the noble Lord referred to the review which his right honourable friend is making. I shall have to accept his advice. We shall have to wait and see what his right honourable friend comes up with. If, however, nothing is done, whether in this Bill or in some other, more appropriate vehicle, then this is something that we shall have to come back to. This is not a group of anomalies which we can leave indefinitely. Too many people are concerned. It simply means that we are not putting our heads to how we can rectify this injustice which is being done to quite a large number of people. With those words, for the moment I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
Lord Denham: My Lords, I think this is the moment that we agreed we should interrupt the day's pro- ceedings. I beg to move that futcher consideration on Report be now adjourned.
Moved accordingly, and, on Question, Motion agreed to.
Corys sent.
Written Answers
PRISON REGULATIONS ON CORRESPONDENCE
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
What provision in the Prison Rules 1964 or in any of the Standing Orders prohibits a prisoner in England and Wales from writing a letter to the British Ambassador to the United Nations.
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Lord Belstead: Under the regulations With which into force on 1st December 1981 a prisoner in England and Wales would be allowed to write to the Britsh NO. 51 Ambassador to the United Nations but the letter would be subject to the general restrictions on contents set out in Prison Department Standing Order 5. BELLSTRY
MIDEX
THE PUBLIC TRUSTEE
FA
No
C4€ 913
Lord O'Hagan asked Her Majesty's Government:
What purpose is served by the continued existence of the Public Trustee.
Action Take
AF913
The Lord Chancellor: The Public Trustee acts as an executor, trustee and custodian trustee where ap- pointed. He frequently acts as a trustee of last resort and may not refuse a trust solely on the grounds of its small value. He also manages the common investment funds and administers pension, friendly society and disaster funds.
HONG KONG VISA: Ms CHRISTINE VERTUCCI
Lord Brockway asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Governor-in-Council of Hong Kong has rejected the appeal of Christine Vertucci, an American lawyer active in support of human rights and better conditions for women workers, against the refusal of renewal of her visa; if so, on what grounds; and whether they approve of this decision.
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Lord Carrington): The Governor-in-Council decided on 9th February to confirm the Director of Immigration's decision not to grant Ms. Vertucci an extension to stay. It is not the practice of the Hong Kong Government to state the grounds for such decisions. This action is the responsibility of the Hong Kong Government and does not require Her Majesty's Government's approval.
PITCAIRN ISLAND: ADMINISTRATION
Lord Brockway asked Her Majesty's Government:
What association they have with the Administra- tion of Pitcairn Island, the colonial possession established by the mutineers of HMS “ Bounty" in 1790, and whether they will restore British pass- ports to the isolated inhabitants and save the colony · from extinction.
Lord Trefgarne: Her Majesty's Government ad- ministers Pitcairn, whose community is largely self- sufficient, through the Governor and his Commissioner. Pitcairners will continue to hold British passports
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