To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Written Statement of 23 January on Mental Health Update, HCWS512, whether he has made an assessment of the potential benefits of investment in (a) talking therapy and (b) other preventative mental health services.

We continue to invest in National Health Service talking therapy services so that people can access a range of evidence-based psychological therapies approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. The NHS Long Term Plan committed an additional £2.3 billion a year to expand and transform NHS mental health services in England by 2023/24. This includes the ambition to increase access to NHS talking therapy services to cover a total of 1.9 million adults and older adults.

An independent report by the Centre for Mental Health has demonstrated the impact of social approaches to preventing and promoting better mental health at a local level. To address the mental health impacts arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and reduce mental health inequalities, the £15 million Better Mental Health Fund invested in 314 local projects promoting better mental health and wellbeing in 40 of the most deprived local authority across England in 2021/22.

In addition, the responses we received to our call for evidence to inform our mental health plans have been analysed and will be considered as part of the development of mental health policies in the Major Conditions Strategy.