Four local authorities are applying for leave to appeal to the House of Lords after failing to overturn a High Court decision that four people sectioned under the 1983 Mental Health Act were not required to pay for specialist accommodation after they were discharged from hospital. The Appeal Court ruled that the meaning of section 117 of the act was unambiguous and local authorities had no power to make such charges. Counsel for the four authorities - the London boroughs of Richmond upon Thames and Harrow, Manchester city council and Redcar and Cleveland borough council - Richard Lissack QC estimated that the 'nationwide annual loss of revenue' to local authorities 'may be around £100m'.