E/C.12/GBR/CO/6 Mental health 57. Despite the legal duty introduced by the Health and Social Care Act 2012 to deliver “parity of esteem” between mental and physical health, the Committee is concerned about the lack of adequate resources provided to mental health services. The Committee notes with concern the information on shortcomings in the implementation of the mental health legislation and the lack of adequate mental health care provided to persons in detention (art. 12). 58. The Committee recommends that the State party ensure the effective implementation of the duty introduced by the Health and Social Care Act 2012 and allocate sufficient resources to the mental health sector. The Committee urges the State party to continue its efforts to guarantee the effective implementation of the mental health legislation in all jurisdictions of the State party and to ensure the accessibility, availability and quality of mental health care, including for persons in detention. Social care for older persons 59. The Committee remains concerned about reports of persistent, serious shortcomings in the care and treatment of older persons, including those with dementia. The Committee is also concerned about reports that relate the increase in mortality of older persons to the reduction of pension benefits (art. 12). 60. The Committee reiterates its previous recommendation (see E/C.12/GBR/CO/5, para. 34) and urges the State party to take all necessary measures to ensure adequate pension benefits, care and treatment of older people, including by carrying out training programmes for doctors and health-care professionals about the rights of older persons and the treatment of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Termination of pregnancy 61. The Committee is concerned that termination of pregnancy in Northern Ireland is still criminalized in all circumstances except when the life of the woman is in danger, which could lead to unsafe abortions and disproportionately affects women from lowincome families who cannot travel to other parts of the United Kingdom (art. 12). 62. The Committee recommends that the State party amend the legislation on termination of pregnancy in Northern Ireland to make it compatible with other fundamental rights, such as women’s rights to health, life and dignity. In this respect, the Committee draws the attention of the State party to its general comment No. 22 (2016) on the right to sexual and reproductive health. Education 63. While noting the efforts made by the State party to reduce inequalities in education, the Committee is still concerned about the persistence of significant inequalities in educational attainment, especially for children belonging to ethnic, religious or other minorities and children from low-income families, which has the effect of limiting social mobility in the State party (art. 13). 64. The Committee recommends that the State party take all necessary measures to reduce the attainment gaps, particularly among children belonging to low-income families, including by reconsidering the austerity programmes adopted and effectively implementing measures aimed at reducing de facto discrimination and segregation of students based on their religion, national or social origin, as well as their economic background. 11