§ Mr. MullinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the change in real terms in spending on drug and alcohol addiction was over the three years to 2005–06. [94012]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthAllowing for inflation, the Government's annual planned expenditure on proactively tackling drugs is:
2003–04— £1,216 million: a 19 per cent. increase on the current year;
2004–05— £1,281 million: a 25 per cent. increase on the current year; and
2005–06£1,383 million: a 35 per cent. increase on the current year.
The majority of the funding for alcohol treatment is spent via the general budgets of primary care trusts and local social service departments, which is consistent with provision being determined following a local consideration of need. This method of funding means that it is not possible to give details of spending on alcohol treatment, but 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.