§ 19. Ian LucasTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures he is taking to help those recovering from drug treatment to find work. [55506]
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownWe are committed to helping unemployed people who have decided to kick their drug habit move into work. Getting ex-drug users back into work is good for them and good for society.
That is why we have introduced progress2work, a £40 million initiative to give unemployed people who are recovering from their drug problem the extra help they need to get into work. 27 progress2work pathfinders are already up and running around the country.
My hon. Friend's constituency will be covered by the second phase of the initiative which will begin in the autumn.
§ 25. Tony CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures he is taking to help those recovering from drug treatment to find work. [55513]
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§ Mr. Nicholas BrownWe are committed to helping unemployed people who have decided to kick their drug habit move into work.
Our policies and programmes are helping people with drug problems to overcome them and lead healthy and productive lives, a key aim of the Government's anti-drugs strategy.
Drug mis-users already have early access to programmes like the new deal and Work Based Learning for Adults. We have also introduced progress2work, a £40 million initiative to give unemployed people who are recovering from their drug problem the extra help they need to get into work. Progress2work will provide additional specialist help so recovering drug users can make the best use of our welfare to work initiatives. It will also equip Jobcentre Plus staff with the skills and knowledge they need to identify and help drug mis-users, and will bring more local and national co-ordination to provision in this field.
Progress2work is already up and running in 27 pathfinder areas and will be rolled out nationally from next year.