§ 19. Liz BlackmanTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps she is taking to expand the availability of anti-drug treatment services across the United Kingdom. [139198]
§ Mr. Ian McCartneyA key objective of the Government's 10 year strategy for tackling drug misuse is to increase the participation of problem drug misusers, including prisoners, in drug treatment programmes which have a positive impact on health and crime by 100 per cent. by 2008 compared with 1998. The Anti-Drug Co-ordinator's report for 1999–2000 shows an increase of some 7 per cent. in those presenting to services compared to 1998 figures. In order to improve further the availability of treatment services the recent spending review announced plans to increase expenditure on treatment services from £243 million in 2000–01 to £401 million for 2003–04.