§ 63. Mr. James Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the known number of alcoholics: and what action is being taken to deal with the problem.
§ Sir K. JosephEstimates derived from various surveys suggest that there may be between 200,000 and 400,000 people in England and Wales whose dependence on alcohol significantly affects their bodily or mental health or personal and social relations. Following my announcement in November, 1970, that I was setting aside an extra £2 million over four years for this purpose, my Department is working in co-operation with local authorities, hospitals and voluntary bodies to improve and develop services on a comprehensive basis.
I am also in close touch with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary about meeting the needs of drunken offenders within this comprehensive service.
To date, apart from local authority expenditure, some £400,000 has been committed to developments including expansion and improvement of hospital 254W facilities and grants to voluntary bodies undertaking counselling and rehabilitation.—[Vol. 806, c. 391–8.]