National Preventive Mechanism Sixth Annual Report 2014–15 • The IMBs gave evidence to the Justice Select Committee inquiry into prisons: policy and planning, the Harris Review into deaths in custody, and the review into the welfare in detention of vulnerable persons. • CQC has a statutory role in providing proposals to government on the content of the Mental Health Act Code of Practice and in 2014 provided a detailed submission to a review of the Code. Many of CQC’s suggestions and subsequent observations, including those arising from its monitoring activities, were accepted and the Code has strengthened its advice on restraint, seclusion, involvement of patients in decisions about their care, and (for the first time) the avoidance of ‘blanket restrictions’ on liberty and rights. The revised Code also describes, for the first time, CQC’s NPM role. CQC will monitor the implementation of this Code in its NPM visiting work.110 • CCE submitted several briefings during the passage of the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill through parliament. These focused on the proposed secure college, including the proposed detention of girls, and boys under 15 within it. CCE also responded to a Ministry of Justice consultation on proposals for secure college rules, raising concerns in particular about the use of force. • CSSIW worked with the Welsh Government to inform and influence the shape of the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Bill. • HMIPS submitted evidence to the Justice Committee of the Scottish Parliament on the Public Services Reform (Inspection and Monitoring of Prisons) (Scotland) Order 2015. HMCIPS gave evidence in person to the Justice Committee of the Scottish Parliament on 2 December 2014.111 • The MWCS took an active role in responding to draft legislation, in particular highlighting concerns about Scotland’s Mental Health Bill. MWCS put forward amendments to challenge some aspects of the Bill, particularly the timescales for review of detention, and to strengthen the right of access to independent advocacy. • ICVS and HMICS provided evidence on the progress and status of the custody visiting scheme in Scotland to the Justice Sub‑committee of the Scottish Parliament in October 2014. • As well as commenting on a number of draft Prison Service Instructions and draft Detention Services Orders throughout the year, HMI Prisons gave evidence to the Public Administration Select Committee inquiry on accountability of quangos and public bodies (April 2014), the Welsh Affairs Committee inquiry on Welsh prisons and offenders ( June 2014), the independent review into self-inflicted deaths in National Offender Management (NOMS) custody of 18–24-year-olds, the Harris Review ( July 2014), the parliamentary inquiry into the use of immigration detention in the UK, hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Refugees and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Migration (October 2014), the National Assembly for Wales Health and Social Care Committee inquiries into new psychoactive substances (October 2014) and alcohol and substance misuse ( January 2015), and the Ministry of Justice consultation on plans for secure college rules (December 2014). 110 See: https://www.cqc.org.uk/sites/default/files/20140911_mental_health_act_code_of_practice_detailed_consultation_ return_1.pdf (accessed 14/10/15). 111 See: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=9665 (accessed 14/10/15). 62