HC Deb 02 February 1998 vol 305 cc505-6W
Mr. Hesford

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has(a) to establish a dedicated budget for and (b) to appoint a minister for mental health; and if he will make a statement. [25879]

Mr. Boateng

It is for health authorities to determine the resources that they allocate for mental health provision from their overall allocation, in the light of the priority accorded to mental health services in the National Health Service Priorities and Planning Guidance 1998–99 and local circumstances. Similarly, it is for local authorities to determine the level of funding they allocate to services for people with mental illness from their total resources.

In recognition of the importance which we place on mental health, we have increased the Mental Illness Specific Grant by 9 per cent. to £73.3 million for 1998–99.

These additional resources will be made available through a new £2 million fund for child and adolescent mental health services and through a £4 million local authority mental health partnership fund. This will be matched by a £4 million NHS mental health partnership fund.

We have no plans to appoint a Minister with exclusive responsibility for mental health.