Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to the Mental Health Act 1983, what plans they have to increase the capacity of (1) places of safety, (2) section 136 suites, and (3) crisis care units, in each Integrated Care Board area in England.

On 23 January 2023, we set out details on how £150 million of capital investment, first announced at the 2021 Spending Review, will be used to improve mental health urgent and emergency care infrastructure. This includes funding for 150 schemes across the country on a fair shares basis, reaching all 42 integrated care boards.

This will support the building and expanding of capacity for health-based places of safety, section 136 suites and mental health assessment, care and treatment units. It will also support crisis cafes, crisis houses and broader improvements to crisis lines and accident and emergency departments, as well as the procurement of up to 100 specialised mental health ambulances over the next two years. This will provide care in more appropriate spaces for those experiencing a mental health crisis and will reduce pressure on wider parts of the healthcare system.