HC Deb 11 March 2002 vol 381 cc809-10W
Mr. Heald

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the change in the suicide rate between the 1995 and 1997 baseline and the most recent data. [13966]

Jacqui Smith

[holding answer 15 November 2001): I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State

HCHS capital spending
£ million
1997£98 1998£99 1999£2000 2000£01 2001£02
Government spending 1,068 782 928 1,353 1,949
Receipts from land sales 471 500 549 575 351
PFI investment 58 170 381 632 788
Total investment 1,597 1,452 1,858 2,560 3,088

Source:

Figures taken from 2001–02 departmental report

gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002, Official Report, column 192W.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 23 October 2001,Official Report, column 147W. There are insufficient data available to assess whether the recent rise is a reliable indicator of a particular trend.

Mr. Heald

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the proportion of young men who commit suicide while suffering from mental illness; and if he will make a statement. [13967]

Jacqui Smith

[holding answer 15 November 2001]: I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002, Official Report, column 192W.

The National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness collect data on suicides by people in contact with mental health services in the year before death. In March 2001, the inquiry published its five-year report, "Safety First", which was based on the detailed study of 5,582 suicides by psychiatric patients in the UK between 1996 and 2000.

The inquiry is crucial to gaining a better understanding of the circumstances surrounding homicides and suicides committed by people with mental illness. The Department is committed to taking appropriate action in response to the findings of the inquiry.