§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people, including prisoners, participated in publicly funded drug treatment programmes in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement; [87442]
(2) how many people in drug treatment programmes reported (i) injecting drugs and (ii) sharing needles in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [87441]
§ Ms JowellI have been asked to reply.
In the six month period ending 31 March 1998, 23,916 people were reported to the Regional Drug Misuse Databases in England as presenting for treatment at drug misuse agencies in the community. It is not possible to give precise figures for only those participating in publicly funded drug treatment programmes. However, it is estimated that around two thirds of those reported as 350W presenting for treatment attended statutory services; most of the remainder attended voluntary services, although a small number attended private agencies.
Of those 23,916 people, 46 per cent. of drug users whose injecting status was known had injected in the previous four weeks. Of those who had injected in the previous four weeks, 15 per cent. of drug users whose sharing status was known had shared injecting equipment in the previous four weeks.
No information is yet available centrally on prisoners participating in drug treatment programmes. A monitoring system to record such information is being established as part of the Prison Service's implementation of its Drugs Strategy.
The questions relate to the United Kingdom Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator's First Annual Report and National Plan. A statement was made by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office in the House on 25 May 1999, Official Report, 161–63. New research is to be commissioned to establish more robust baselines this year.