§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what timetable he now envisages for implementing recommendations of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs report on treatment and rehabilitation.
§ Mr. FowlerI attach a high priority to improving services for drug misusers. In a circular issued today I am asking health authorities to take early and urgent action to improve local services for the treatment of drug misusers. I am anxious that the authorities review the scale of the problem in their area in consultation with local authorities, voluntary organisations, the police and probation service. They will report back on the prevalence of drug misuse together with their plans for tackling it, taking account of the recommendations of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.
I am asking for interim reports from health authorities by December, and will be looking for evidence of a rapid programme of action. So we will be asking authorities to ensure that services for drug misusers are an integral part of their plans for services generally.
Other action I am taking includes the allocation of nearly £5 million to 78 projects so far under a centrally funded drugs initiative and the setting up of a working group of medical practitioners to prepare guidelines on good clinical practice in the treatment of drug misuse. This group will also consider the advisory council's recommendations for the extension of licensing restrictions to include all the opioid drugs.
I am placing copies of the circular in the Library of the House.