Commenting on the Chancellor’s budget today, Katharine Moxham, spokesperson for GRiD said: "We welcome the government’s extension of the scope of non-taxable counselling to include related medical treatment such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) as part of an employer’s welfare counselling services. The role of employers in supporting those dealing with mental ill health issues has been seen as crucial and, quite rightly, should be encouraged, rather than penalised through the tax system.

“Income protection insurance through the workplace (group income protection) has been recognised as a product that works well for employers to enable them to provide a financial safety net and to help support people suffering from mental ill health. Mental health issues accounted for 24% of all group income protection claims last year. As an industry, we know how vital early intervention is in supporting people through mental ill health and moving them towards recovery and back into work, so it's really positive to see that Government taking steps towards helping employers better achieve this."