§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many people, and what percentage of the population in Scotland, received medical attention in connection with alcohol problems during each of the last five years; and whether these percentages and the numbers have decreased since the passing of the Licensing (Scotland) Act;
(2) how many persons, and what percentage of the Scots population, received medical attention in connection with drug and solvent abuse problems during each of the last five years; and whether these percentages and the numbers have decreased since the passing of the Licensing (Scotland) Act.
§ Mr. Allan StewartThis information is not available.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many rehabilitation centres for alcohol abuse are in operation in Scotland; and whether he has plans to open more.
§ Mr. Alan StewartThe provision of facilities and services for people with alcohol-related problems is a matter for local authorities and health boards. Facilities of this nature are also provided by a number of voluntary organisations. Information about the extent of such provision is not held centrally.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures his Department is taking at present to deal in each case with the abuse of (a) alcohol, (b) drugs and (c) solvents.
§ Mr. Alan StewartIn each case action is primarily the responsibility of health boards and local authorities; though voluntary organisations also play an invaluable part in dealing with alcohol abuse in particular. My Department has sought to encourage and finance research, health education and teaching in this field, through the activities of the Scottish Health Education Group, the Scottish Council on Alcoholism, the alcohol studies centre at Paisley College of Technology, and a number of other bodies.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many convictions arising out of offences relating to (a) alcohol, (b) drugs and (c)solvent abuse, respectively, there have been for each of the last 10 years.
27W
§ Mr. RifkindStatistics on solvent abuse (which in itself is not an offence) are not collected by my
Scotland—Persons convicted for offences relating to alcohol or drugs 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 Drunkenness 10595 10898 11668 13516 14683 15001 14156 12358 12643 13523 Drunk driving(*) 8757 10094 10463 11974 12671 12155 10129 9166 11082 11432 Drugs offences 322 557 624 641 564 529 611 705 957 1122 (*) Including driving while under the influence of drugs.