§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend drug referral schemes to include referral for alcohol abuse; and if he will make a statement. [142609]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe drug arrest referral schemes, promoted and supported by the Home Department, with £20 million from the Crime Reduction Programme, encourage the referral worker to assess the needs of those who have been arrested. While the focus is on drugs, the assessment will identify alcohol and other issues with which the individual has problems. The arrestee is referred to appropriate services, including those which can respond to alcohol abuse where they exist.
The Home Department is committing some £140 million over the next three years to help meet the treatment needs of drug misusers. This will include those referred through arrest referral schemes.