§ Mr. LeighTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the total amount(a) spent and (b) allocated by his Department on tackling the problems relating to drugs in respect of (i) developing prevention publicity, education and community action and (ii) improving treatment and rehabilitation, for (1) 1994, (2) 1995, (3) 1996 and (4) 1997. [4796]
§ Ms JowellInformation on total Government and individual departments' expenditure on tackling drug misuse is not recorded on an annual basis. The most recently available estimates were published in the White Paper "Tackling Drugs Together" in May 1995. They show that at least £526 million of expenditure in 1993–94 could be directly attributable to drug programmes and activities across the United Kingdom.
The Government will be appointing a "drug czar" to co-ordinate action against drugs, working to the President of the Council as Chair of the Cabinet's coordinating committee on drug misuse. One of his or her first tasks will be to review urgently the existing drugs strategy, and put forward proposals for tackling the problem with renewed vigour. This review will include current Government expenditure.
506W
Mr. JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hernias have been diagnosed in each of the last 10 years, how many required surgery; and if he will make a statement.[4728]
§ Ms JowellWe are unable to provide the information in the form requested. The information that is available is set out in the table. It shows those cases admitted to hospital where the primary diagnosis was hernia of the abdominal cavity and covers the years 1989–90 to 1994–95. We are unable to provide information about the number of patients who have their hernias diagnosed and/or treated outside National Health Service hospitals.