Call for children’s mental health services boost

By DAVID MADDOX
Published 14th Mar 2015, 14:14 BST
Willie Rennie has called for the money to be used to boost mental health services for children in Scotland. Picture: Greg MacveanWillie Rennie has called for the money to be used to boost mental health services for children in Scotland. Picture: Greg Macvean
Willie Rennie has called for the money to be used to boost mental health services for children in Scotland. Picture: Greg Macvean
THE Scottish Government is coming under pressure to boost mental health services for children in Scotland with £25 million of new cash coming from Westminster.

The call by Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie comes as Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg prepares to unveil a £250 million boost for mental health services for young people in England which will be part of the Budget on Wednesday.

Mr Rennie said that the £25 million of Barnett consequentials coming to Scotland from the announcement should be used for the same services and condemned SNP ministers in Holyrood for failing to follow the Coalition government’s lead on mental health services last Autumn.

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He said: “We have been pushing the Scottish Government to put mental health on the same statutory footing as physical health as has now been done in England but they have refused to listen.