Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer prior to the Spring Statement on (a) funding allocations for mental health services and (b) the provision of additional funding for mental health services in the context of increasing demand.

We have regular discussions with HM Treasury on a range of issues, including funding for mental health services. We have committed to increase spending on mental health services in real terms by at least £2.3 billion a year by 2023/24. In each year of the current Spending Review period, spending on mental health services will increase as a share of the National Health Service budget.

We are also ensuring that clinical commissioning groups and integrated care boards once operational meet the Mental Health Investment Standard to allow spending on mental health to increase at least in line with the growth in overall funding allocations.