HC Deb 20 January 2000 vol 342 cc542-3W
Mr. Clifton-Brown

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what were the numbers of registered drug misusers in Gloucestershire(a) 1997 and (b) 1999. [105552]

Mr. Ian McCartney

The Addicts Index was discontinued by the Home Office in 1997. The following table shows the number of drug misusers presenting to treatment agencies in the Gloucestershire Health Authority area. Figures for the six month period ending September 1999 are not yet available.

Six month period ending Agency episodes reported in Gloucestershire Health Authority area1
March 1997 28
September 1997 33
March 1998 63
September 1998 71
March 1999 96
1 The number of agency episodes is generally higher than the number of users as a person may start an episode during the period at more than one agency

Mr. Clifton-Brown

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what measures she is taking to counter the increase in numbers of people registered as drug misusers in Gloucestershire. [105551]

Mr. Ian McCartney

The Government's strategy for tackling drug misuse was set out in the White Paper "Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain" in 1998. The Government backed this ten-year strategy by allocating an extra £217 million for anti-drugs work as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review. This includes an additional £70.5 million for health and local authorities over the next three years for drug treatment services and £18 million to support drug prevention activities, particularly among young people. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has also announced a further £20 million for the expansion of Arrest Referral Schemes to help drug-misusing offenders obtain treatment. The Gloucestershire Drug Action Team is responsible for co-ordinating local implementation of the strategy.