Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many referrals were made to mental health services, by primary reason for referral in (a) 2021-22, (b) 2022-23 and (c) 2023-24.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The tables attached show the number of referrals to Mental Health services by primary reason for referral in 2021/22, 2022/23, and 2023/24, as well as the number of referrals to Talking Therapies services by presenting complaint in 2021/22, 2022/23, and 2023/24.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many referrals were made to mental health services, by patient age in (a) 2021-22, (b) 2022-23 and (c) 2023-24.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The tables attached show the number of referrals received for Mental Health Services and for NHS Talking Therapy services, by age at referral and financial year, for 2021/22, 2022/23, and 2023/24.

It should be noted that the majority of NHS Talking Therapy services are for those aged over 18 years old, with some including support for 16 to 17 year olds. In addition, these counts include rejected referrals and will be impacted by data quality issues, particularly where there are changes of system suppliers and transfers of caseloads between providers.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many referrals were made to mental health services, by ethnicity in (a) 2021-22, (b) 2022-23 and (c) 2023-24.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The tables attached show the number of referrals made to Mental Health Services and to NHS Talking Therapy services by ethnicity, in 2021/22, 2022/23, and 2023/24.

Please note that these counts include rejected referrals and will be impacted by data quality issues, particularly where there are changes to the system suppliers and transfers of caseloads between providers.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number of people on waiting lists for mental health services who had been waiting for first contact for (a) five years and over, (b) between three and five years, (c) between two and three years, (d) between one year and two years, (e) between six months and one year, (f) between three and six months and (g) less than three months on 31 January 2025, broken down by Integrated Care Board.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The information requested for secondary mental health services, including learning disability and autism services, is in the attached table. The data presented is a count of people. However, some people may have multiple referrals waiting for treatment and may fall into multiple waiting time categories. The data also includes people who failed to attend their appointment.

NHS Talking Therapies data is not included, and is available separately at:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/nhs-mental-health-dashboard/

Since July 2023, NHS England has included waiting times metrics for referrals to community-based mental health services in its monthly mental health statistics publication to increase transparency and drive improvements in the quality of data and help services to target the longest waits. The data in the table will not align with these published statistics. For adult community mental health, the waiting list is defined as someone still waiting for a second contact whereas the data in the table is for people waiting for a first contact. However, for children and young people, the waiting list is defined as someone still waiting for a first contact.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many referrals made to mental health services in (a) 2021-22, (b) 2022-23 and (c) 2023-24 waited longer than 12 months between referral and second contact.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The following table shows the number of referrals received by Mental Health services that waited longer than 12 months between referral and second contact for the years 2021/22, 2022/23, and 2023/24:

Source: Mental Health Services Data Set.

In addition, the following table shows the number of referrals received by NHS Talking Therapies that waited longer than 12 months between referral and second contact for the years 2021/22, 2022/23, and 2023/24:

Source: NHS Talking Therapies.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number of people on waiting lists for mental health services who had been waiting for first contact for (a) five years and over, (b) between three and five years, (c) between two and three years, (d) between one year and two years, (e) between six months and one year, (f) between three and six months and (g) less than three months on 31 January 2025, broken down by NHS region.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The information requested for secondary mental health services, including learning disability and autism services) is in the attached table. NHS Talking Therapies data is not included, and is published separately at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/nhs-mental-health-dashboard/

Since July 2023, NHS England has included waiting times metrics for referrals to community-based mental health services in its monthly mental health statistics publication to increase transparency and drive improvements in the quality of data and help services to target the longest waits. The data in the table will not align with these published statistics. For adult community mental health, the waiting list is defined as someone still waiting for a second contact whereas the data in the table are for people waiting for a first contact. However, for children and young people, the waiting list is defined as someone still waiting for a first contact.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number of people on waiting lists for mental health services who had been waiting for first contact for (a) five years and over, (b) between three and five years, (c) between two and three years, (d) between one year and two years, (e) between six months and one year, (f) between three and six months and (g) less than three months on 31 January 2025, broken down by NHS trust.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The information requested for secondary mental health services, including learning disability and autism services, is in the attached table. The data presented is a count of people. However, some people may have multiple referrals waiting for treatment and may fall into multiple waiting time categories. The data also includes people who failed to attend their appointment.

NHS Talking Therapies data is not included, and is available separately at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/nhs-mental-health-dashboard/

Since July 2023, NHS England has included waiting times metrics for referrals to community-based mental health services in its monthly mental health statistics publication to increase transparency and drive improvements in the quality of data and help services to target the longest waits. The data in the table will not align with these published statistics. For adult community mental health, the waiting list is defined as someone still waiting for a second contact whereas the data in the table is for people waiting for a first contact. However, for children and young people, the waiting list is defined as someone still waiting for a first contact.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many PIP claimants in each psychiatric disorder subgroup recorded as the main disabling condition were awarded (a) 12 points or more in the daily living component but fewer than 4 points in a single daily living category, (b) 22 points in the daily living component but fewer than 4 points in a single daily living category, (c) 19 points in the daily living component but fewer than 4 points in a single daily living category and (d) 41 points or more in the in the daily living component in 2024.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

In 2024, 62,370 PIP claimants were awarded 12 or more points across all of their Daily Living activities but scored fewer than 4 points in each activity. A breakdown of those claimants with a primary condition in the Psychiatric Disorder category by their primary condition is provided in Table 1 below. This includes point scores from assessments associated with initial decisions as well as award reviews.

Table 1: Volume of PIP claimants who scored 12 or more points total in Daily Living activities, but scored less than 4 points in all questions by Psychiatric Disorder

In 2024, 10 claimants were awarded PIP and scored 19 or more points across all of their Daily Living activities but scored fewer than 4 points in each activity. A breakdown of those claimants with a primary condition in the Psychiatric Disorder category by their primary condition cannot be provided, as all values are less than 5 and must therefore be omitted to protect against claimant identification.

It is not possible to score more than 21 points across all Daily Living activities while scoring fewer than 4 points in each activity, therefore there are no claimants who scored 22 points across all Daily Living activities but scored fewer than 4 points in each activity.

In 2024, 6,160 claimants were awarded PIP and scored 41 or more points across all of their Daily Living activities. A breakdown of those claimants with a primary condition in the Psychiatric Disorder category by their primary condition is provided in Table 2 below. This includes point scores from assessments associated with initial decisions as well as award reviews.

Table 2: Volume of PIP claimants who scored 41 or more points total in Daily Living activities

The number of people currently on PIP who did not score 4 points in one category in their last assessment should not be equated with the number who are likely to lose PIP in future. It’s important to make a clear distinction between the two, not least because we don’t want constituents to be unnecessarily fearful about their situation, when we understand many are already anxious. Someone who didn’t score 4 points in an activity in a previous assessment may well score 4 points in a future assessment – not least as many conditions tend to get worse, not better, over time. Under the current eligibility criteria, 19% of award reviews over the last 5 years have resulted in an increased award. After accounting for behavioural changes, the OBR predicts that 9 out 10 PIP recipients at the time of policy implementation are expected to be unaffected by the PIP 4-point change in 2029/30.

Our intention is that changes will start to come into effect from November 2026 for PIP, subject to parliamentary approval. After that date, no one will lose PIP without first being reassessed by a trained assessor or healthcare professional, who assesses individual needs and circumstance. Reassessments happen on average every 3 years. No one over state pension age at the time any changes come in will be affected.

The change includes a run-on of PIP entitlement for 13 weeks as a financial protection, which will apply to claimants who lose entitlement on award review because of the new requirement. This run-on will extend to passported benefits such as Carer’s Allowance and the UC carer’s element. Claimants will continue to receive these awards during the run on period.

Even with these reforms, the overall number of working age people on PIP/DLA is expected to rise by 750,000 by the end of this Parliament and spending will rise from £23 billion in 24/25 to £31 billion in 29/30.

We are consulting on how best to support those who are affected by the new eligibility changes, including ensuring health and care needs are met. We have also announced a wider review of the PIP assessment to make it fair and fit for purpose, which I am leading. We are bringing together a range of experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience to consider how best to do this. We will provide further details as plans progress.

Notes:

- The data provided have been rounded to the nearest 10. Values greater than 0 but lower than 5 have been replaced with a dash.

- The data provided covers claimants who fall under DWP policy ownership only (England, Wales and Abroad).

- The data provided includes normal rules claimants only and excludes special rules for end of life (SREL) claimants as they typically receive maximum or very high scores.

- The data provided covers working age claimants only.

- The volumes provided are from assessments for both initial decisions and award reviews, with the assessment decision and clearance in 2024.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many PIP claimants were awarded (a) 12 or more points in the daily living component but fewer than 4 points in a single daily living category, (b) 22 points in the daily living component but fewer than 4 points in a single daily living category, (c) 19 points in the daily living component but fewer than 4 points in a single daily living category and (d) 41 points or more in the daily living component in 2024.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

In 2024, 62,370 PIP claimants were awarded 12 or more points across all of their Daily Living activities but scored fewer than 4 points in each activity. A breakdown of those claimants with a primary condition in the Psychiatric Disorder category by their primary condition is provided in Table 1 below. This includes point scores from assessments associated with initial decisions as well as award reviews.

Table 1: Volume of PIP claimants who scored 12 or more points total in Daily Living activities, but scored less than 4 points in all questions by Psychiatric Disorder

In 2024, 10 claimants were awarded PIP and scored 19 or more points across all of their Daily Living activities but scored fewer than 4 points in each activity. A breakdown of those claimants with a primary condition in the Psychiatric Disorder category by their primary condition cannot be provided, as all values are less than 5 and must therefore be omitted to protect against claimant identification.

It is not possible to score more than 21 points across all Daily Living activities while scoring fewer than 4 points in each activity, therefore there are no claimants who scored 22 points across all Daily Living activities but scored fewer than 4 points in each activity.

In 2024, 6,160 claimants were awarded PIP and scored 41 or more points across all of their Daily Living activities. A breakdown of those claimants with a primary condition in the Psychiatric Disorder category by their primary condition is provided in Table 2 below. This includes point scores from assessments associated with initial decisions as well as award reviews.

Table 2: Volume of PIP claimants who scored 41 or more points total in Daily Living activities

The number of people currently on PIP who did not score 4 points in one category in their last assessment should not be equated with the number who are likely to lose PIP in future. It’s important to make a clear distinction between the two, not least because we don’t want constituents to be unnecessarily fearful about their situation, when we understand many are already anxious. Someone who didn’t score 4 points in an activity in a previous assessment may well score 4 points in a future assessment – not least as many conditions tend to get worse, not better, over time. Under the current eligibility criteria, 19% of award reviews over the last 5 years have resulted in an increased award. After accounting for behavioural changes, the OBR predicts that 9 out 10 PIP recipients at the time of policy implementation are expected to be unaffected by the PIP 4-point change in 2029/30.

Our intention is that changes will start to come into effect from November 2026 for PIP, subject to parliamentary approval. After that date, no one will lose PIP without first being reassessed by a trained assessor or healthcare professional, who assesses individual needs and circumstance. Reassessments happen on average every 3 years. No one over state pension age at the time any changes come in will be affected.

The change includes a run-on of PIP entitlement for 13 weeks as a financial protection, which will apply to claimants who lose entitlement on award review because of the new requirement. This run-on will extend to passported benefits such as Carer’s Allowance and the UC carer’s element. Claimants will continue to receive these awards during the run on period.

Even with these reforms, the overall number of working age people on PIP/DLA is expected to rise by 750,000 by the end of this Parliament and spending will rise from £23 billion in 24/25 to £31 billion in 29/30.

We are consulting on how best to support those who are affected by the new eligibility changes, including ensuring health and care needs are met. We have also announced a wider review of the PIP assessment to make it fair and fit for purpose, which I am leading. We are bringing together a range of experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience to consider how best to do this. We will provide further details as plans progress.

Notes:

- The data provided have been rounded to the nearest 10. Values greater than 0 but lower than 5 have been replaced with a dash.

- The data provided covers claimants who fall under DWP policy ownership only (England, Wales and Abroad).

- The data provided includes normal rules claimants only and excludes special rules for end of life (SREL) claimants as they typically receive maximum or very high scores.

- The data provided covers working age claimants only.

- The volumes provided are from assessments for both initial decisions and award reviews, with the assessment decision and clearance in 2024.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many PIP claimants in each subgroup of psychiatric disorders recorded as the main disabling condition who were awarded (a) more than 12 points in the living component but fewer than four points in a single daily living category were awarded a score of at least two in (i) six , (ii) seven, (iii) eight, (iv) nine and (v) ten of the daily living categories in 2024.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The table below shows the volume of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants who were awarded more than 12 points in the daily living component but fewer than 4 points in all daily living activities, broken down by the number of daily living activities in which they were awarded a score of at least two. This is provided for all PIP clearances which took place in 2024, for all PIP claimants and broken down by condition for those PIP claimants with a psychiatric disorder as their main disabling condition. This includes point scores from assessments associated with initial decisions as well as award reviews.

Table 1: Selected detail on PIP point scores for PIP claimants with more than 12 daily living points but fewer than 4 points in all daily living activities

Source: DWP Administrative Data

Notes:

• Data only includes claimants living in regions under DWP policy ownership (England, Wales and Abroad).
• Figures are for assessments from both initial decisions and award reviews, with the date of assessment decision and clearance in 2024.
• Data includes normal rules claimants only, and excludes special rules for end of life (SREL) claimants as they typically receive maximum or very high scores.
• Data only includes working age claimants.
• Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. Values greater than 0 but below 5 have been replaced with a dash.
• Totals may not sum due to rounding.

The number of people currently on PIP who did not score 4 points in one category in their last assessment should not be equated with the number who are likely to lose PIP in future. It’s important to make a clear distinction between the two, not least because we don’t want constituents to be unnecessarily fearful about their situation, when we understand many are already anxious. Someone who didn’t score 4 points in an activity in a previous assessment may well score 4 points in a future assessment – not least as many conditions tend to get worse, not better, over time. Under the current eligibility criteria, 19% of award reviews over the last 5 years have resulted in an increased award. After accounting for behavioural changes, the OBR predicts that 9 out 10 PIP recipients at the time of policy implementation are expected to be unaffected by the PIP 4-point change in 2029/30.

Our intention is that changes will start to come into effect from November 2026 for PIP, subject to parliamentary approval. After that date, no one will lose PIP without first being reassessed by a trained assessor or healthcare professional, who assesses individual needs and circumstance. Reassessments happen on average every 3 years. No one over state pension age at the time any changes come in will be affected.

The change includes a run-on of PIP entitlement for 13 weeks as a financial protection, which will apply to claimants who lose entitlement on award review because of the new requirement. This run-on will extend to passported benefits such as Carer’s Allowance and the UC carer’s element. Claimants will continue to receive these awards during the run on period.

Even with these reforms, the overall number of working age people on PIP/DLA is expected to rise by 750,000 by the end of this Parliament and spending will rise from £23 billion in 24/25 to £31 billion in 29/30.

We are consulting on how best to support those who are affected by the new eligibility changes, including ensuring health and care needs are met. We have also announced a wider review of the PIP assessment to make it fair and fit for purpose, which I am leading. We are bringing together a range of experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience to consider how best to do this. We will provide further details as plans progress.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many PIP claimants who were awarded more than 12 points in the living component but fewer than 4 points in a single daily living category were awarded a score of at least two in (a) six, (b) seven, (c) eight, (d) nine and (e) ten of the daily living categories in 2024.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The table below shows the volume of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants who were awarded more than 12 points in the daily living component but fewer than 4 points in all daily living activities, broken down by the number of daily living activities in which they were awarded a score of at least two. This is provided for all PIP clearances which took place in 2024, for all PIP claimants and broken down by condition for those PIP claimants with a psychiatric disorder as their main disabling condition. This includes point scores from assessments associated with initial decisions as well as award reviews.

Table 1: Selected detail on PIP point scores for PIP claimants with more than 12 daily living points but fewer than 4 points in all daily living activities

Source: DWP Administrative Data

Notes:

• Data only includes claimants living in regions under DWP policy ownership (England, Wales and Abroad).
• Figures are for assessments from both initial decisions and award reviews, with the date of assessment decision and clearance in 2024.
• Data includes normal rules claimants only, and excludes special rules for end of life (SREL) claimants as they typically receive maximum or very high scores.
• Data only includes working age claimants.
• Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. Values greater than 0 but below 5 have been replaced with a dash.
• Totals may not sum due to rounding.

The number of people currently on PIP who did not score 4 points in one category in their last assessment should not be equated with the number who are likely to lose PIP in future. It’s important to make a clear distinction between the two, not least because we don’t want constituents to be unnecessarily fearful about their situation, when we understand many are already anxious. Someone who didn’t score 4 points in an activity in a previous assessment may well score 4 points in a future assessment – not least as many conditions tend to get worse, not better, over time. Under the current eligibility criteria, 19% of award reviews over the last 5 years have resulted in an increased award. After accounting for behavioural changes, the OBR predicts that 9 out 10 PIP recipients at the time of policy implementation are expected to be unaffected by the PIP 4-point change in 2029/30.

Our intention is that changes will start to come into effect from November 2026 for PIP, subject to parliamentary approval. After that date, no one will lose PIP without first being reassessed by a trained assessor or healthcare professional, who assesses individual needs and circumstance. Reassessments happen on average every 3 years. No one over state pension age at the time any changes come in will be affected.

The change includes a run-on of PIP entitlement for 13 weeks as a financial protection, which will apply to claimants who lose entitlement on award review because of the new requirement. This run-on will extend to passported benefits such as Carer’s Allowance and the UC carer’s element. Claimants will continue to receive these awards during the run on period.

Even with these reforms, the overall number of working age people on PIP/DLA is expected to rise by 750,000 by the end of this Parliament and spending will rise from £23 billion in 24/25 to £31 billion in 29/30.

We are consulting on how best to support those who are affected by the new eligibility changes, including ensuring health and care needs are met. We have also announced a wider review of the PIP assessment to make it fair and fit for purpose, which I am leading. We are bringing together a range of experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience to consider how best to do this. We will provide further details as plans progress.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many PIP claimants who were awarded (a) at least eight but fewer than 12 points in the living component and fewer than four points in a single daily living category and (b) at least 12 points in the living component but fewer than four points in a single daily living category were (i) waiting for and (ii) receiving treatment for a physical or mental health condition on 23 June 2025.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department does not hold data on whether Personal Independence Payment claimants are waiting for or receiving treatment for their primary medical condition.

Found: Q69 Josh Fenton-Glynn: Can I just pause you a second?

Found: Francis Dame Meg Hillier Rebecca Paul Adam Jogee Anna Dixon Sir Julian Smith Mary Kelly Foy Josh Fenton-Glynn

Found: Dame Meg Hillier Rebecca Paul Adam Jogee Anna Dixon Sir Julian Smith Mary Kelly Foy Josh Fenton-Glynn

Found: Francis Dame Meg Hillier Rebecca Paul Adam Jogee Anna Dixon Sir Julian Smith Mary Kelly Foy Josh Fenton-Glynn

Found: Samantha Niblett Alison Hume Bambos Charalambous Adam Dance Daniel Francis Matt Western Josh Fenton-Glynn

Submit Evidence (by 7 Aug 2025)

The Committee is undertaking an inquiry into the role of physical activity in improving the health and wellbeing of our older population.