§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent in 1988, or the latest year for which figures are available to assist(a) hard drug addicts and (b) people dependent on benzodiazepines.
§ Mr. FreemanIn 1988–89, the Government allocated nearly £5.5 million to regional health authorities specifically for the development of drug misuse services, including services for those dependent on benzodiazepines. A further £4 million was to be used to help prevent the spread of HIV among drug users and from them to the wider population. The total sum allocated to regional health authorities for all drug services has been increased to almost £15 million in 1989–90.
The following grants were made in 1988–89 under the central drugs initiative to services specifically for those dependent on benzodiazepines:
£ North East Council on Addictions 21,144 West Cumbria Mind (Copeland) 14,117 In addition, over £2.5 million was allocated to 63 other projects some of which also provided a service for those dependent on benzodiazepines.
The Department also made a grant of £25,000 to the National Association of Mental Health (MIND) to produce a national directory of services for this group as well as public information material on benzodiazepines and a grant of £10,000 to Tranx(UK) Ltd.