Alcohol Treatment Programmes (Hansard, 8 December 2003)

§ Norman Lamb
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money has been directed towards alcohol treatment programmes by the Government in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement. [141985]

§ Miss Melanie Johnson
The majority of the funding for alcohol treatment is spent via the general budgets of primary care trusts and local social service departments, consistent with provision being determined following a local consideration of need. Latest estimates indicate that around £95 million is spent each year on treatment in England, and that most of this funding is provided by the Government.

§ Norman Lamb
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the Government's future plans for alcohol treatment strategies. [141986]

§ Miss Melanie Johnson
The Government's Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England is due to be published and implemented from 2004 in accordance with the timetable set out in the NHS Plan.
This strategy will set the future direction for the development of alcohol treatment.