Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure additional mental health provision for young people during the upcoming school summer holidays.

While we have no specific plans to do so, we are increasing funding for mental health services by an additional £2.3 billion a year by 2023/24, which will allow at least 345,000 additional children and young people to access to National Health Service-funded mental health support. In 2021/22, we provided a further £79 million in response to the pandemic and expand children’s mental health services. This has accelerated the coverage of mental health support teams in schools and colleges, with 287 teams in place in approximately 4,700 schools and colleges. Where established in schools and colleges, mental health support teams are expected to be available at all times of the year.

The online Every Mind Matters campaign also raises awareness of the guidance and tools available to support children and young people’s mental wellbeing and ensure that those who need urgent support are directed towards the appropriate services.