Oral Answers to Questions

Helen Whately Excerpts

Wednesday 26th October 2016 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

The fact that I set out—that we are spending record levels in the NHS on mental health—is absolutely right, but I have said in response to a number of people who have questioned me on this that we recognise that there is more for us to do in mental health, and I would have thought that we should have cross-party support on doing just that.

[Helen Whately (Faversham and Mid Kent) (Con)]

Speaking outside 10 Downing Street on the day she became Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend said:

“If you suffer from mental health problems, there is not enough help to hand.”

I welcome her commitment to mental health, expressed on that day and in her responses today. What steps is she taking to make sure the bold ambitions of the Government’s five-year forward view for mental health are achieved?

[The Prime Minister]

I am pleased to say that, in fact, what we see—far from the impression that is given by some of the comments from Opposition Members—is that, since 2009-10, around 750,000 more people are accessing talking therapies and 1,400 more people are accessing mental health services every day, compared to 2010, so that is up by 40%. But my hon. Friend, who I know has a particular interest and a particular expertise in this area, is right that we need to do more, and that is why we are continuing to invest in mental health services and continuing to increase the standards that we provide.