Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his oral evidence to the Health and Social Care Select Committee on 25 January 2022, what plans his Department has to (a) consult on and (b) publish a refreshed mental health plan as part of a revised Long Term Plan for the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

The Department plans to launch a public discussion paper this spring to inform the development of a new longer term mental health strategy. We also plan to update the NHS Long Term Plan later this year, taking account of the impact of the pandemic. The NHS Long Term Plan’s commitments relevant to National Health Service mental health services will be considered as part of this update.