§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last met the Secretary of State for the Home Department to discuss child and adolescent mental health services for young offenders; and if he will make a statement on future mental health provision for young offenders. [56322]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 14 May 2002]Ministers last met to discuss child and adolescent mental health services at a bi-lateral ministerial meeting on 6 February. The main focus of provision is the ongoing programme to improve the availability and quality of child and adolescent mental health services in accordance with the national development strategy, backed by £85 million of targeted funding, 1999– 2002. The aim is for all local services to be able to respond appropriately to the range of mental health demands from young people, including those arising within the youth justice system, for example through the work of youth offending teams. Good progress is also being made to provide (by means of conversion of an existing facility) a new 24-bedded unit for young people with severe mental health problems requiring treatment in conditions of security. This is part of new arrangements for the national commissioning of adolescent forensic mental health services, including also central revenue support for the two existing national health service units and the assessment of further requirements for secure places. Mental health provision for young offenders will also be considered under the relevant strand of the planned children's national service framework on which work has recently started.