AN MP HAS welcomed reforms of the Mental Health Act, which will strengthen the role that the justice system plays in protecting society’s most vulnerable.

In the House of Commons this week, Vale of Clwyd's Dr James Davies asked the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Robert Buckland, how reforms of the Mental Health Act will strengthen the role the justice system plays in protecting society's most vulnerable, both in North Wales, and across the country.

Secretary Buckland replied: "Among other reforms, we want, in particular, to increase patient access to the Mental Health Tribunal, which provides vital independent scrutiny of detention orders. We wish to expand its powers so that it plays a greater safeguarding role.

“Health policy is devolved to Wales, so it will be for the Welsh Government to decide whether they wish to join the UK Government on many of our reforms in the White Paper, and we will continue to work closely with them in order to secure that partnership.”

Speaking afterwards, Dr Davies said: “These reforms can improve the way in which the most vulnerable in society are protected and it is therfore vitally important that the Welsh Government get onboard.

"I was pleased to hear that the Secretary of State for Justice is committed to securing a partnership with them.”