Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people with severe and enduring mental health problems are (a) eligible for and (b) receiving social care.

Health and Social Care Information Centre’s Short and Long Term Support data shows that the number of people accessing long term adult social care support during the year to 31 March 2015 with the primary support reason of “Mental Health Support” was 110,000.

A further 6,000 new clients with the primary support reason of “Mental Health Support” received short term adult social care support to maximise independence.

The data shows the number of people local authorities have considered as eligible for social care support.