Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the proposed closure of at least half of the Samaritans branches on efforts to reduce suicide rates in the UK.

We have made no such assessment. The decision to close some of their branches is a matter for Samaritans.

We engage with Samaritans and other voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations closely and will continue to work with them in their important role in supporting suicide prevention efforts.

Department officials met recently with the Samaritans CEO, who set out this change programme and their plans.