Part of 4. Questions to the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd – in the Senedd at 1:14 pm on 1 July 2020.
I'm grateful to Lynne Neagle for raising this, and I completely agree with everything she said about the importance of service transformation happening as well as our initial and immediate response to the COVID-19 crisis. I just want to reassure that the £7 million that was removed from that particular line in the budget was done on the understanding that that was work that couldn't happen because of the COVID-19 crisis, or that was slowed down, and that was what was able to free up that funding in the first place. But, clearly, the provision of mental health services is going to be more important than ever given the pressures on people as a result of the crisis. So, I give you my reassurance and my word that I will continue to value mental health very highly in my discussions with colleagues.