Commons Sense

Hansard-based summaries and metrics

Mental Health Services Children 2025-01-07

2025-01-07

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Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer
Graeme Downie Lab
Dunfermline and Dollar
▸ Context
The long-term impact of the covid-19 pandemic on young people, including isolation leading to missed opportunities and unknown impacts on mental health. Child and adolescent mental health services referrals in Fife and Scotland have increased significantly despite a record Budget settlement from the UK Government.
What steps he is taking to improve mental health services for children given the long-term impact of the covid-19 pandemic on young people, with isolation leading to missed opportunities, lost life experiences and still unknown impacts on mental health. Child and adolescent mental health services referrals in Fife and across Scotland have skyrocketed, yet despite a record Budget settlement from the UK Government, the SNP Scottish Government told NHS Fife not even to bother asking for more funding to tackle this massive problem. Will he join me in urging the Scottish Government to reverse course and ensure that young people have the support they deserve and need?
The Minister for Secondary Care (Karin Smyth)
My hon. Friend makes an excellent point on behalf of young people. It is disappointing that the Scottish Government do not seem to be allocating the funding as they could. He raises a powerful case, and I know that he will work hard with the Government in Edinburgh to make the situation better for his constituents.
▸ Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment or action by the UK government to address the issue directly
Disappointing Work Hard
Response accuracy
Q2 Direct Answer
Damian Hinds Con
East Hampshire
▸ Context
The previous Government's plan for mental health support teams in schools.
Is the mental health support in schools that the Minister just mentioned the same as or different from the plan for mental health support teams in schools that was already being rolled out by the previous Government?
The Minister for Secondary Care (Karin Smyth)
Our plan is to have universal coverage in every school. That was not achieved by the previous Government, and we hope to ensure that it happens.
▸ Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy