Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve the provision of (a) counselling and (b) other psychological support for victims of crime.

We recognise that too many victims and survivors of crime are not getting the mental health support or care they need.

The 10-Year Health Plan sets out ambitious plans to transform mental health services to improve access and treatment, and to promote good mental health and wellbeing for the nation. This includes improving assertive outreach, investing in mental health emergency departments and neighbourhood mental health centres, and increasing access to talking therapies and evidence-based digital interventions.

The recently published Medium Term Planning Framework sets targets for integrated care boards to expand coverage of mental health support teams in schools and colleges and expand NHS Talking Therapies and Individual Placement Support schemes by 2029.

We continue to work with all parts of the system, including the National Health Service, policing, and justice services, to support and protect victims of crime.