§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out for each of the last five years the amount of expenditure on preventative measures to tackle the 661W misuse of (a) alcohol, (b) tobacco, (c) cannabis, (d) ecstasy, (e) amphetamines, (f) LSD, (g) heroin, (h) cocaine and (i) crack cocaine. [75736]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 23 October 2002]Most of the work on the prevention of alcohol misuse is undertaken at local level by National Health Service (NHS) health promotion units and primary health care professionals such as general practitioners and practice nurses. It is not possible to separately identify the funds devoted to this alcohol misuse prevention work. Over the period 1999–2003 a total of £76 million will have been invested in the NHS smoking cessation services. Actual spending on the public education campaign is £46 million with £13 million committed for 2002–03.
It should be noted that figures listed below for the years after 1998 when the Government's drug strategy was launched are a Department of Health contribution to overall prevention funding. Other Government Departments, in particular the Home Office and the Department for Education and Skills, also provide substantial funding.
£ 1998/99 Around 1. 5m made available for national campaigns 1999/00 Around 1.5m made available for national campaigns 2000/01 Around 1. 5m made available for national campaigns 2001/02 Around 1. 5m made available for national campaigns. In addition 11. 164m ring fenced money for drug prevention spent. 2002/03 Around 1. 5m made available for national campaigns. In addition 15. 75m ring fenced money for drug prevention allocated. Prior to 2001–02, drug prevention funding was not ring fenced. However health and local authorities could use mainstreamed funds to finance drug prevention.