Jeremy Hunt challenges Ralf Little

The health secretary says he'll debate actor Ralf Little over claims he's lied about the NHS.

In an interview with Newsbeat, Jeremy Hunt says he's waiting for the Royle Family star to "show the evidence" that he hasn't expanded NHS mental health provision.

The pair started rowing on Twitter weeks ago after the MP appeared on TV talking about investing in care.

Mr Hunt said: "I get involved in lots of Twitter spats with lots of people when I think they're not being fair about the progress the NHS is making."

Jeremy Hunt and Theresa May visiting a hospital earlier this year

Mr Hunt told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show in October he's overseen the "biggest expansion in mental health provision in Europe" in his five years as health secretary.

The Andrew Marr Show tweeted a clip of him talking.

Ralf, who starred in comedies The Royle Family and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, accused him in a tweet of "knowingly lying" to the public about statistics.

Ralf Little said he "double dared" Mr Hunt to sue him.

It's after the health secretary made a false claim about mental health care to MPs.

Ralf (L) is best known for his role in sitcom The Royle Family, and comedy Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps

Watch: Jeremy Hunt responds to Ralf Little's comments.

On World Mental Health Day in October, he said: "We've got 30,000 more people working in mental health today than we had when [Labour] left office."

That is 43 times the actual figure, and official parliament records have had to be changed to correct the error.

Mr Hunt later tweeted the actor with statistics about the number of people employed in mental health services in the UK.

Mr Hunt spoke to Newsbeat after watching our iPlayer documentary My Mind and Me.

Reacting to the documentary, Mr Hunt admitted, "there's a long way to go" in improving services across the UK.

Asked about the row with Ralf Little, he said: "I get involved in lots of Twitter spats with lots of different people when I think they're not being fair about the progress the NHS is making.

"He's got to show me the evidence of what he's said.

"When he provides that, I'll happily come into your studio and debate with him, but he hasn't been able to do that."

A spokesperson for Ralf Little told Newsbeat that he is currently out of the country and not available for interview.

If you're struggling with your mental health you can find help at BBC Advice.

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