§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations the Government have received regarding the effects of the provisions of the Finance Bill on people with mental health problems living within the community; and if he will make a statement on those effects. [18370]
§ Mr. BurnsThe Government receive numerous representations from a wide range of interested parties on the provisions of the Finance Bill. Improving the care of mentally ill people is a high priority for the Government and considerable resources have been spent in recent years in pursuit of this aim. We recently announced the allocation of an extra £50 million to help health and local authorities improve further the quality and range of services they provide to mentally ill people.