§ Virginia BottomleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last met representatives of Cruse Bereavement Care; what financial assistance he is providing for Cruse Bereavement Care; what assessment he has made of the contribution Cruse makes to reducing long-term mental health problems; and if he will make a statement. [R] [36935]
§ Jacqui SmithMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State last met with representatives from Cruse Bereavement Care on 2 June 2000. On 12 February 2002 civil servants from the Department met with the new chief executive of Cruse to discuss the work of Cruse and its role in the delivery of modern mental health services.
The Department has provided Cruse Bereavement Care with funding over a number of years under the Section 64 General Scheme under the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968. Details of current projects and funding are:
1409W
£ Quality Care in Bereavement 1 180,000 Bereavement Care—Improving Access 2 176,000 Promoting Bereavement Awareness 3 90,000 1 Over 3 years from 1999 2 Over 3 years from 2000 3 Over 3 years from 2001 We recognise that to deliver a modern, dependable health and social care service, the voluntary sector has a crucial role to play in helping service users cope with their mental health problems and we appreciate and value the very good work being done by voluntary organisations such as Cruse.