§ 22. Ms. Clare Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a further allocation of resources to health authorities for the treatment of heroin addicts and to assist local communities to take measures to prevent the spread of heroin addiction.
§ 50. Mr. Sackvilleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he intends to make resources available to regional health authorities additional to the £6 million already provided for drug treatment and rehabilitation facilities.
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§ Mr. John Patten£6 million was initially made available for a three-year period commencing 1983–84. However, the rate of starts meant that the year's allocation was not fully taken up and the scheme is continuing into 1986–87. This initiative is only one element in the Government's response to the problem of drug misuse. Responsibility for the provision of treatment facilities lies in general with health authorities, which have been asked to take early action to improve services for drug misusers. The Health Education Council and other bodies are being consulted on the report on prevention from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, the publication of which was announced by my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary on 28 June, at columns 511–12.
§ 34. Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the progress of his measures for drug treatment and rehabilitation facilities.
§ Mr. John PattenSince my right hon. Friend's reply of 6 June, at column 200, to my hon. Friend, letters have been sent to professional and other bodies asking what action they are taking in the light of recommendations on education and training in the report on treatment and rehabilitation from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. They have also been asked to take account of a report on prevention from the advisory council, publication of which was announced by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Office in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Lewes (Mr. Rathbone) on 28 June, at columns511–12. This report has also been sent to health and local authorities.
The Standing Conference on Drug Abuse has sent copies of the circular referred to in my right hon. Friend's reply of 6 June to its member organisations, to alert them to assist the health authorities who are asked by the circular to consult voluntary organisations.
Since my right hon. and learned Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short) on 30 April, at columns 53–56, the following further projects have been approved under the central initiative to improve services for drug misusers. A total of 81 projects at a total cost of £5.1 million over three years has now been approved.
Health Authority Description of Project £ North East Thames RHA Multi-disciplinary Team 120,200 Southend HA South West Thames RHA Multi-disciplinary Team 181,812 Wandsworth HA Voluntary Organisation Tranx Release (Northampton) Advisory and Self Help Service—Tranquillizer Misuse 29,892