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Campaigners have applauded the government’s decision to rethink its approach to new mental health legislation, but warned that reform must not be forgotten, writes David Callaghan.

The controversial draft mental health bill was not included in the Queen’s Speech, and so will not be a government priority during the next 12 months.

Health minister Jacqui Smith told the Mind annual conference this week that the government was still committed to the bill.

"We’re not going to scrap this bill," she said. "We have consulted and we will continue to consult."

In the face of fierce criticism and heckling at the conference in Cardiff, she admitted that the bill needed further consideration, but defended the proposed measures for compulsory treatment in the community.

"We do believe there are people who currently would benefit themselves and society if it was possible for them to be treated under compulsion," she said.

Mind reacted by warning the government not to forget the need for ‘modern’ mental health legislation. The charity will fight proposed compulsory treatment and indefinite detentions of people with severe personalty disorders.

"Mind has welcomed the opportunity for an extended period of consultation to allow the government to re-draft the bill into legislation that must meet the needs of people with mental health problems," a spokesperson said.

The Mental Health Alliance welcomed the bill’s omission from the Queen’s Speech, saying it needed more work.

Alliance chairperson Paul Farmer said: "The draft bill focuses too much on issues of risk and compulsory treatment, rather than individual rights to an assessment of needs and effective support and care."

But Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of mental health charity Sane, said she regretted the delay in the bill.

"We hope it does not mean that our 16 years of campaigning will be allowed to run into the sand," she said.