Business of the House

John Lamont Excerpts
Thursday 6th September 2018

(6 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Andrea Leadsom Portrait Andrea Leadsom
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As so often, the hon. Lady raises a serious and important point. It is not a matter for me, but if she would like to write to me, I will be able to take it up with the relevant Ministers on her behalf.

John Lamont Portrait John Lamont (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk) (Con)
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Despite savage budget cuts by the Scottish Government, Scottish Borders Council is prioritising mental health services by appointing counsellors in all the high schools in its area. Will the Government therefore find time to have a debate on mental health and whether they can adopt the strategy used by that council to ensure that all high schools across all the UK can benefit from such a service?

Andrea Leadsom Portrait Andrea Leadsom
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My hon. Friend is a strong voice for his constituency and I join him in praising Scottish Borders Council. I hope the Scottish Government will follow its initiative. He will be aware that the Prime Minister has made tackling the appalling injustice of mental illness a priority for the UK Government. Health is a matter for the Scottish Government, but the £2 billion in extra funding they received from the UK Government this year could be used to help roll out this policy right across Scotland.