Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 8 June 2022 to Question 3475 on Mental Health Services: Children and Young People, what criteria are used to determine whether health and wellbeing measures affecting children and young people are to be afforded statutory protection; and which measures have been afforded that protection in the last 12 years.

Any decision to place such measures on a statutory footing would be subject to the Department’s policy development process, any legal obligations such as the Public Sector Equality Duty, any relevant impact tests such as the family test, consultation with interested parties and value for money, with the final decision made by Minsters. The information on the specific measures afforded this protection in the last 12 years is not held in the format requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.