§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) statutory and (b) voluntary bodies there are in Northern Ireland which deal with substance abuse and rehabilitation; and if he will make a statement. [97455]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe Department of Health and Social Services is aware of 17 statutory and 34 voluntary organisations working in this area. These figures exclude organisations the primary focus of which is not substance misuse but which nevertheless may encounter such problems in the course of their work.
§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money is spent per annum in Northern Ireland on substance abuse rehabilitation by(a) statutory and (b) voluntary bodies; and if he will make a statement. [97456]
§ Mr. George HowarthThis information is not available in the form requested. However, a 1999 report on reducing alcohol related harm in Northern Ireland estimated that annual expenditure by Health and Social Services Boards and HSS Trusts on alcohol addiction treatment services was £2.9 million. Similarly, a consultancy report, commissioned to inform the new "Drugs Strategy for Northern Ireland", estimated that Boards and Trusts spend £1.4 million annually on drug services.
The Department of Health and Social Services awarded grants totalling almost £230,000 in 1998–99 to voluntary organisations involved in combating substance misuse.
§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what indicators are used by(a) statutory and (b) voluntary bodies in Northern Ireland to measure the success of programmes working with substance abuse and rehabilitation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. George HowarthNo common standards or indicators are in place to assess the effectiveness of substance abuse programmes undertaken by the many statutory and voluntary organisations engaged in tackling the problem. However, a number of organisations take steps to assess such programmes ranging from client questionnaires to multi-disciplinary team evaluations. Funding of voluntary organisations by Government Departments is conditional upon the outcome of a rigorous evaluation programme every three years.
The new "Drug Strategy for Northern Ireland", published in August, sets out a series of objectives and outcomes in respect of four key areas. The Government will, in due course, publish specific plans as to how these objectives and outcomes will be met but organisations will be held accountable for progress through the drug structures and the action planning process. The new alcohol strategy due for publication in March 2000 will also include specific objectives and outcomes.
597W
§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what level of co-operation there is between(a) statutory and (b) voluntary organisations working in Northern Ireland on substance misuse and rehabilitation programmes; and if he will make a statement. [97458]
§ Mr. George HowarthStructures are in place to ensure co-operation both within and between the statutory and voluntary sectors to tackle substance misuse. The Central Co-ordinating Group for Action Against Drugs, chaired by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office, comprises representative from Government Departments and their agencies, together with advisers from the police, Prison Service and Customs and Excise. Drug Co-ordination Teams exist in each Health and Social Services Board areas. These include representatives from a wide range of statutory and voluntary sector organisations, and are responsible for developing local action plans to address local needs.
In addition, health professionals from each Health Board area work together on the Northern Ireland Committee on Drug Misuse. The Committee, which also includes voluntary sector representation, advises the Department on measures to combat the illicit drug problem.
A Drug Information Exchange Group, under the auspices of the Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland, also provides a forum for co-operation and information sharing. A separate forum will be established shortly on alcohol misuse.
Following a recent review of alcohol policy in Northern Ireland, the Department of Health and Social Services intends to publish a new strategy in March 2000. The strategy will include recommendations about structures to facilitate improved co-operation.
§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money is ring-fenced by local health boards in Northern Ireland for substance abuse rehabilitation schemes; and if he will make a statement. [97459]
§ Mr. George HowarthThis information is not available in the form requested. However, during 1999–2000, expected expenditure to be deployed on alcohol/addiction services by each Health and Social Services Board is set out in the following table:
Expected spend on alcohol/addiction service in 1999–2000 Health and Social Services Board £000 Northern 715 Southern 505 Eastern 1,400 Western 911