This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Noel Ruddle: Statement by Deputy First Minister
24/08/1999
The Deputy First Minister and Minister of Justice, Jim Wallace MSP, made the following statement after this morning's Cabinet meeting:
"Scottish Ministers this morning confirmed their intention to put a Mental Health Bill before the Scottish Parliament using emergency legislation procedures when the Parliament resumes next week. When the Bureau meets this afternoon, the Minister for Parliament will propose a timetable which would get the Bill through Parliament within 10 days of introduction.
"The timetable we are setting out will ensure that the Bill is in place before any further relevant appeals are determined. It meets the commitment we gave at the time of the Ruddle judgement. We are determined to ensure that, when the courts come to consider similar cases, they can take full account of public safety.
"We want to ensure that our proposals command Parliamentary support and are effective in the courts. I am therefore contacting the Presiding Officer and the main Opposition Parties to brief them on our proposals. We shall also be making sure that our proposals are consistent with the European Convention of Human Rights. We intend to conclude those discussions in time to allow us to publish the Bill by Wednesday 1 September.
"In the meantime, we continue to monitor closely all cases at the State Hospital which might be affected by the Noel Ruddle judgement. Only a handful of cases have a diagnosis which might place them in the same category as Mr Ruddle. None of these cases is presently the subject of an appeal.
"We are keeping both the MacLean and Millan Committees in touch with the immediate action we are taking in areas which they are subjecting to longer term review."
News Release: SE0393/99
24 August, 1999