§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the number of people who died in each of the past seven years as a result of the abuse or the misuse of(a) tobacco, (b) alcohol, (c) heroin, (d) cocaine and (e) cannabis; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 2 February 1994]: The available information is as follows. It is estimated that some 10,600 people in Scotland die each year from smoking-related illnesses, including lung cancer, coronary heart disease and stroke. In some 600 cases a year the cause of death, as recorded on the death certificate, is a disease identified as being alcohol-related; however alcohol plays a part in the deaths of many more people through its contribution, for example, to hypertension, violence and road accidents. In the year from 1 November 1991 it is estimated that between 80 and 120 habitual misusers of controlled drugs died as a direct result of drug misuse; many of these cases will have resulted from the misuse of several drugs and reliable estimates cannot be offered in relation to the role of particular drugs.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what recent representations he has received concerning funding for drug and alcohol addiction treatment centres; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what proposals he has concerning the funding of drug and alcohol addiction treatment centres; whether
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Change 1987–93 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 Number Per cent. Bed complement, Number Scotland 16,237 15,910 15,343 14,689 13,878 13,199 12,283 -3,954 -24.4 Argyll and Clyde 1,463 1,462 1,264 1,264 1,197 1,196 1,180 -283 -19.3 Ayrshire and Arran 878 878 861 861 756 744 740 -138 -15.7 Borders 288 276 270 255 255 249 248 -40 -13.9 Dumfries and Galloway 617 617 617 617 451 457 430 -187 -30.3 Fife 1,070 1,050 925 925 857 754 730 -340 -31.8 Forth Valley 857 820 850 800 750 740 714 -143 -16.7 Grampian 1,641 1,573 1,520 1,499 1,396 1,345 1,271 -370 -22.5 Greater Glasgow 3,536 3,533 3,495 3,195 2,914 2,744 2,488 -1,048 -29.6 Highland 655 655 579 499 489 489 444 -211 -32.2 Lanarkshire 1,468 1,405 1,405 1,302 1,346 1,204 954 -514 -35.0 Lothian 2,220 2,184 2,175 2,131 2,122 1,993 1,789 -431 -19.4 Orkney — — — — — — 17 17 — Shetland — — — — — — — — — Tayside 1,536 1,449 1,374 1,333 1,312 1,259 1,227 -309 -20.1 Western Isles 8 8 8 8 33 25 51 43 537.5 Length of stay of patients resident percentage 1 year or less 35.6 35.6 36.3 37.4 38.1 39.3 138.4 — — Over 1 year 64.4 64.4 63.7 62.6 61.9 60.7 161.6 1 As at 31 December 1992. money obtained by way of European Community structural funds can be used for such purposes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 2 February 1994]: The drugs task force, led by my noble and learned Friend the Minister of State, has received reports from health boards, social work departments, drug liaison committees and other organisations about facilities for drug misusers. This subject will be considered by the task force at a future meeting.
No recent representations have been received about the funding of alcohol addiction treatment centres.
The principal aim of the European structural funds is to assist the economic development of areas experiencing particular structural and economic difficulties. Drug and alcohol addiction treatment centres would not therefore be eligible for support from this source.