Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with the Department of Health and Social Care on the development of the cross-government strategy on mental health.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) plans to launch a public discussion paper this Spring to inform the development of a new longer-term plan for improving mental health and wellbeing. This will enable a series of wide-ranging and ambitious conversations about the potential solutions available, both within and beyond government and the NHS.

My department has, and will continue, to work with DHSC to ensure that the needs of those in contact with the criminal justice system, both victims and offenders, are embedded into the development of this plan. Minister Atkins is also an active member of the ministerial group responsible for overseeing the development of the plan.