ONE in four people will experience a mental illness in their lifetime, and the Government's plans to reform mental health law could lead to many more of them being detained and treated against their will.

Now an all-party parliamentary committee scrutinising the Draft Mental Health Bill has said that these proposals are "fundamentally flawed". It has endorsed the view of Maca, and the nearly 70 other organisations in the Mental Health Alliance, that the Draft Bill is unethical and unworkable.

We agree with the scrutiny committee that the primary purpose of mental-health legislation should be to improve services and safeguards for patients and to reduce the stigma of mental illness. The Government should focus on those priorities, rather than attacking the civil liberties of people with mental health problems.

But the Scrutiny Committee's recommendations are not binding on any Government formed after Thursday, May 5. Anyone who cares about better mental health law should join us in asking all candidates at this election whether, if elected, they will support the draft Mental Health Bill as it stands, or whether they will join the increasing call for a radical overhaul.

MARTIN BALL, Maca