On Wednesday 31 October, Kevan sat on the Public Bill Committee for the Mental Health Discrimination Bill. This was a Private Members Bill introduced by Gavin Barwell MP, which has gathered support on all sides of the House.
The aim of the Bill is to change the law that currently stops people with mental illnesses from serving on a jury, as a Company Director or as a Member of Parliament.
In support of the Bill, Kevan said, “The signal the Bill sends out…is that people with mental illness can and do carry on perfectly normal, active and successful lives and can make a huge contribution to society in whichever field they wish. The practical issues around the Bill are important, but the symbolism it has for the stigma of mental health will help move on the debate about how we look at mental health in this country.”
Kevan’s full contribution can be found at: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmpublic/mentalhealthdiscriminationno2/121031/am/121031s01.htm