Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to tackle severe mental health issues in children exacerbated by the covid-19 outbreak and isolation due to the lockdown restrictions.

The National Health Service has worked hard to keep mental health services going during the first peak, using technology where needed but also face to face appointments where appropriate.

On 23 November, we brought forward our Wellbeing and Mental Health Support Plan for COVID-19, to set out the support available for individuals in the context of a second wave, and the winter months. It sets out the steps we have taken to strengthen the support available for people who are struggling, including for children and young people with severe mental illness. This includes the announcement that the NHS will receive around an additional £500 million next year to address waiting times for mental health services, give more people the mental health support they need and invest in the NHS workforce.