HC Deb 14 May 2002 vol 385 cc627-8W
Mr. Heald

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last met the Secretary of State for Education and Skills to discuss the promotion of mental health in schools; and if he will make a statement. [56321]

Jacqui Smith

Ministers in the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Skills have many regular meetings and child mental health services are raised at many of these meetings. Officials of both Departments meet frequently to discuss multi-agency mental health services for children.

The promotion of children's mental health and the prevention of mental health problems in childhood are central to many Government programmes. The Department for Education and Skills issued guidance last year specifically addressing mental health promotion in schools, to which this Department contributed. This guidance is designed to increase awareness about children's mental health among teachers and to provide examples of good practice.

Mr. Heald

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the need to amend legislation on mental health in order to implement United Kingdom obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; and if he will make a statement. [56320]

Jacqui Smith

The Government published the White Paper "Reforming the Mental Health Act" in December 2000. The White Paper made clear our intention to reform mental health legislation and to bring it into line with the contemporary patterns of care and treatment including the changes and new investment set out in the NHS plan. This included commitment to introduce additional measures to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people with mental health problems where current safeguards are not considered to be sufficiently robust.

This is a high priority for the Government. New legislation will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time allows.