Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Government press release entitled PM pledges action on suicide to mark World Mental Health Day, published on 9 October 2018, what assessment he has made of the benefits throughout the UK of the extra money announced for the Samaritans charity over the next four years.

The Government is providing funding of up to £1.8 million over the next four years to support the Samaritans United Kingdom-wide freephone helpline. This will help to ensure that millions of people who contact the Samaritans helpline each year from across the UK can continue to receive support when they reach out for help.

The Samaritans regularly monitors and reviews the effectiveness of its helpline.