§ Mr. Formanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the guidelines on the central funding initiative for service and for the treatment and rehabilitation of drug misusers will be issued; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FowlerWe are today issuing guidelines for health and local authorities and local voluntary bodies wishing to apply for grants from the £6 million the Government have made available over the next three years for improving services to drug misusers. They are being widely distributed to health and local authorities, to voluntary organisations and professional organisations concerned with drug misusers and to individuals who have made known their interest in this scheme.
The number of narcotic drug addicts known by the Home Office to be receiving drugs in 1972 was 1,620—by 1982 the figure had risen to 4,400. But these figures relate only to known narcotic addicts. The true figure for drug misuse is much higher and must take account of people who are dependent on other types of drugs. Research suggests there could be as many as 40,000.
The objectives of this central initiative are through pump-priming grants—
- i. to provide for regional and local assessments of the nature and spread of drug misuse problems;
- ii. to increase the ability of professionals and others working in this area to help people with drug related problems;
- iii. to improve links between health services provision and other community based services; and
- iv. to improve the effectiveness of services available and ensure that they provide value for money.
Under this scheme, revenue-dependent projects can be funded for up to three years. Projects which have longer-term revenue requirements should look to other sources for support beyond the period of central funding. The guidelines ask for applications for the first round of grants to be submitted by 29 July 1983. The Department will, as far as practicable, respond within six weeks. We will aim to ensure a reasonable geographical spread of projects and distribution of funds between different organisations and different types of projects. This may mean that consideration of some high-cost projects has to be deferred 398W until the second round in 1983–84 or possibly 1984–85. In the light of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs report and the comments we received on it, we will be considering whether to give preference in the second round in 1983–84 and there-after to bids for projects of particular kinds or in selected areas. The guidelines also invite by 30 August 1983 notice in outline of projects in preparation but not ready for application.
I hope this extra money will encourage health and local authorities as well as local voluntary organisations with an interest in drug misuse to give urgent consideration to this problem in their areas and to co-operate in producing responses. We want to make sure that the £6 million is spent where it is most needed by local agencies developing local projects. I see some of the money going on more facilities — special walk-in centres for addicts not presently going for treatment, or for hostels, halfway houses and rehabilitation centres in the community. Money could also be very usefully spent on getting more people to help addicts — key staff such as extra psychiatric nurses—and on local training projects.