Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have for mental health support teams in schools to include a specialist child counsellor.

The Department of Health and Social Care is working with the Department for Education and NHS England to consider how to deliver our commitment of access to a specialist mental health professional in every school. We need to ensure that any support meets the needs of young people, teachers, parents, and carers. This includes considering the role of existing programmes of support with evidence of a positive impact, such as mental health support teams in schools and colleges.