Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Cost of Living: Impact on Mental Health

Tuesday 5 December 2023 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial support for people with mental health issues to secure employment is aimed at providing opportunities for career advancement.
  • The SNP's approach to mental health support differs from the Conservative party's methods.
  • The Government seeks a cross-Government approach for mental health provision, involving multiple Departments.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Marion Fellows SNP
Benefits & Welfare Mental Health
Context

The Centre for Mental Health and the British Psychological Society have expressed concerns about increased pressure on claimants' mental health due to benefit sanctions or job-seeking coercion.

Question

The recent Centre for Mental Health, the British Psychological Society, and others raised serious concerns about the UK Government's new back to work plan. They warned that applying more benefit sanctions or coercing people into jobseeking would be detrimental to claimants struggling with mental health issues. Does the Minister share my concern about this, and has she made any representations to her Cabinet colleagues about the mental health impact of these measures?

Answer from Maria Caulfield

We support people with mental health issues to get into work. We believe that these individuals should have opportunities for good jobs and careers, as supported by Mind, which states that employment provides a sense of identity and structure, enhancing support, confidence, and ambition.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific mental health concerns about the back-to-work plan were not addressed directly

How: That Is The Difference Between The Snp And Conservatives

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Q2 Marion Fellows SNP
Benefits & Welfare Mental Health
Context

The Centre for Mental Health, British Psychological Society warned the UK government about negative impacts of increased sanctions and job-seeking pressure on individuals with mental health issues.

Question

Concerns have been raised regarding the UK Government's new back-to-work plan, particularly around applying benefit sanctions or coercing people into seeking jobs. These measures may adversely affect claimants with mental health challenges. Does the Minister share these concerns? Has she made any representations to her Cabinet colleagues about the mental health impact of such measures?

Answer from Maria Caulfield

The SNP's approach differs from that of the Conservatives, who believe in supporting people with mental health issues to secure employment. We assert that individuals should have opportunities for career advancement and not just job acquisition.

How: That Is The Difference Between The Snp And The Conservatives

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Q3 Sally-Ann Hart
Education Mental Health Children & Families
Context

A study by Magic Breakfast and British Nutrition Foundation indicated that healthy breakfasts can improve children's nutritional intake, physical and cognitive development, and mental health.

Question

A recent study showed that eating a healthy breakfast can enhance the nutritional intake of vulnerable children, aiding their physical and cognitive growth as well as their mental health. Will my hon. Friend work with Department for Education colleagues to expand school breakfast provision in order to mitigate the impact of child food insecurity?

Answer from Maria Caulfield

We seek a cross-Government approach for mental health provision, as outlined in our suicide prevention strategy which involves multiple Departments. Regarding support for nutrition in schools, I will raise this with colleagues in the Department for Education to explore further actions.

Partly answered
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Q4 Amy Callaghan
NHS Economy Mental Health
Context

Research by the Mental Health Foundation indicated that a third of UK adults felt anxious, more than a quarter felt stressed, and almost one in ten felt hopeless due to the cost of living crisis.

Question

I welcome the Secretary of State to her new role. Research found that 30% of UK adults feel anxious, over 25% feel stressed, and nearly 10% feel hopeless because of the cost of living crisis. What representations has the Minister made to Cabinet colleagues regarding this health impact since she took up her post?

Answer from Maria Caulfield

The Government provided over £350 billion during the pandemic for job protection and over £60 billion recently to help with energy bills. The Treasury has also introduced schemes such as the Breathing Space programme, which halts creditor enforcement actions and freezes interest for individuals with problem debt experiencing mental health issues.

Partly answered
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