HC Deb 08 December 2003 vol 415 cc234-5W
20. John Mann

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what research he has commissioned to assess the impact of drug treatment in prisons on public expenditure. [142106]

Caroline Flint

The comprehensive range of drug interventions offered in prison—designed to address the diverse needs of low, moderate and severe drug-misusers—is based primarily on findings from wider, community-based drug research.

Research on prison-based drug treatment published earlier this year has shown that graduates of programmes are significantly less likely to be re-convicted after release; further in-depth research—including cost-effectiveness—is planned.

We know from extensive research carried out in the community that there can be significant savings in public expenditure from treating drug-misusers.

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