Former minister Norman Lamb has taken the campaign for increased funding for mental health services to chancellor George Osborne.

In a meeting at Downing Street last night, the North Norfolk MP made the case for further investment ahead of Mr Osborne's spending review next week.

The spending review is expected

to take the cumulative cut for

some government departments up towards 50pc since 2010, or even more.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Lamb said he had a 'good hearing' and Mr Osborne now held the

cards.

He said he made the case for mental health to be treated as seriously as other illnesses, as set out

in a campaign launched a fortnight ago.

'I made both the moral and economic case for extra investment, that if he makes the investment the economy will benefit as a result of that as there are so many people out of work, on sick leave receiving benefits,' said Mr Lamb.

'They reckon the cost to the economy is over £100bn.'

He said this was a 'crunch moment', and that if money was not made available for mental health then the situation would worsen.

'If he was to make the investment now, we could achieve genuine equality,' he added.

'We had a good hearing. He listened intently, he gave us the courtesy of hearing our case and asked us questions on it.

'He said he would take it seriously and take it further.

'I don't know if we will get what we need next week, but that's what we're after.

'It was absolutely worth doing, but we wait now until next week.'

Mr Lamb was joined at the meeting by former minister Andrew Mitchell and the chief executive of charity Mind Paul Farmer.