§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether he plans to include a duty on primary care trusts to provide age-appropriate mental health services under the proposed Mental Health Bill; [114740]
(2) when he expects to publish the clauses relating to children for the proposed Mental Health Bill. [114739]
§ Jacqui SmithThe purpose of the proposed Mental Health Bill is to provide a legal framework for when someone can be treated for their mental disorder without consent. It is not about providing services or the standards of service provision. Therefore, it is not proposed to include a duty on primary care trusts to provide age-appropriate mental health services in the Bill.
Reform of the legislation is only one strand of the Governments strategy. It should be seen alongside increased investment under the NHS Plan and modernisation of services under national service frameworks (NSFs) for standards of care for working-age adults with mental health problems.
The first part of the NSF for children, young people and maternity services emphasises the need for age-appropriate care and environments for children and young people when in hospital. This will be a key theme throughout the full NSF to be published in the next year.
An expert working group is developing a section of the NSF specifically on child and adolescent mental health services.
Clauses relating to children for the proposed Mental Health Bill will be published when the full Bill is introduced in Parliament. The Bill will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time allows.