A Holyrood committee has warned that a lack of transparency around data collection and analysis makes it hard to assess whether Scotland’s mental health spending is effective. The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee said it was disappointed by the absence of clear data on how the mental health budget is gathered and spent.

Spending on mental health in Scotland has risen in recent years and is now around £1.5 billion a year. In its pre-budget scrutiny, MSPs noted broad support for the aims set out in the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy and delivery plan, but emphasised that it remains difficult to link those aims with actual spending. The committee urged the Government to provide more data showing how spending aligns with priorities and to publish figures for actual expenditure to aid evaluation.

MSPs said the mental health landscape is complicated by the integration of health and social care, and they called for more detailed analysis of current spending to inform policy and future decisions. They warned that uncertainty around medium and long-term budgets could affect services and the third sector, and asked for reassurance that the spending review would provide lasting funding. Clare Haughey, the SNP MSP who chairs the committee, said transparency, data availability and analysis have limited effective scrutiny and that better data could help target spending and improve outcomes. The Scottish Government has been approached for comment and the committee looks forward to a response.