SCOTS with mental health issues would have to be treated within weeks under proposals to be included in the Lib Dem manifesto for the 2016 Holyrood election.

Nick Clegg will today announce plans for the first ever mental health waiting time targets south of the border. He will also pledge to increase access to treatment such as talking therapies.

The Deputy Prime Minister will pledge to allocate half of the extra £1bn a year he wants to spend on the NHS in England after the 2015 general election on the issue.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said: "Mental health will also be one of our top priorities for Scotland in our 2016 manifesto and in the meantime we will be pressing the Scottish Government to pass on any extra money to mental health services.

"This is a major priority in Scotland."