HC Deb 04 December 1979 vol 975 cc161-2W
Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to implement recommendations made by the House of Commons Expenditure Committee report on the reduction of pressure on the prison system, concerning detoxification centres.

Sir George Young

My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Social Services and the Secretary of State for the Home Department are considering these recommendations, together with the related recommendations of the May

Number of beds Average DHSS Grant per bed
£
Leeds … … … … 24 7,167 (full cost)
Manchester … … … 15 10,667 (full cost)
Tower Hamlets … … … 11 2,091 (part cost

I regret that information on which to base an estimated cost of a 24-hour admission to a detoxification centre is not available. The other estimated costs requested relate to matters for which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department is responsible.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

All new building schemes are scrutinised by the Department, but only those rehabilitation schemes above cost limit are subject to scrutiny. The information is as follows:

committee of inquiry into the prison services, published on 31 October 1979.

Mr. Wheeler

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what research has been ongoing into the effectiveness and use of detoxification centres; and if he will give estimated comparisons of the approximate cost of police arrest, confinement to police cell, court appearance and week's imprisonment as against a 24-hour admission to a centre;

(2) if he will list the experimental detoxification centres established since 1973, with details of the number of beds provided in each and the average cost.

Sir George Young

In September 1975 the Salvation Army established a detoxification centre at Tower Hamlets towards whose costs the Department contributes. The Department financed the establishment of a centre at Leeds in May 1976 and one at Manchester in November 1977, and undertook to fund each in full for an experimental period of three years—subsequently extended by six months at Leeds.

The number of beds provided at each detoxification centre, and the average cost per bed to the Department for the year 1978–79, are as follows: