§ Tony CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what support the Government are giving to drug and alcohol rehabilitation schemes in the community. [178158]
§ Miss Melanie Johnson[holding answer 14 June 2004]: In 2001–02 the Government set up the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse to increase both the quality and availability of drug treatment. At the same time the Government made substantial funding available for drug treatment through a new pooled drug treatment budget, which in 2004–05 had risen to £260 million, an increase of over 100 per cent. over 2001–02 levels.
In addition to the pooled drug treatment budget substantial national health service mainstream monies are available for the provision of drug treatment.
Alcohol services are largely funded through NHS mainstream monies but there are no central records of the total amount.
The Government also recently launched their alcohol strategy in March 2004, which includes within it a goal to improve the effectiveness of alcohol treatment services.