§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the reply by the Lord Williams of Mostyn on 12 January (H.L. Deb., col. 173), how many new drug treatment and training centres they expect to provide as a result of the ring-fenced funds and over what period of time; and whether voluntary and private treatment homes, which had to close last year, will be enabled to reopen. [HL641]
§ Lord Williams of MostynThe ring-fenced funds referred to at col. 173 ofHansard cover piloting of drug treatment and testing orders in three areas from late 1998 to the end of the financial year 1999–2000 and (subject to successful evaluation) roll-out in 2000–01 and 2001–02.
The funds will be made available to probation services to spend on drug treatment and testing orders in the ways that, subject to Home Office guidance, they judge most effective. We do not envisage that services will need to set up their own treatment centres but it may be that, as a result of the expansion of the market for drug treatment services that this new money will induce, previously unviable but effective treatment centres may be able to reopen.