§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they intend to increase funding for drug and alcohol treatment centres, whether statutory or voluntary, in the coming financial year; and what provision is being made for increasing staff numbers in such centres. [HL1465]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathIn this financial year (2002–03), to ensure both increased availability and also higher quality drug treatment services, the Government made available £195.7 million for the pooled drug treatment budget. This meant that all health authorities received an increase of at least 30 per cent on the previous year's drug treatment allocation. In 2003–04 primary care trusts, who will be acting as bankers for the pooled drug treatment budget will receive a further average increase of 23 per cent.
The Government in April 2001 established the National Treatment Agency (NTA), with the remit of increasing the effectiveness and availability of drug treatment. The NTA recognises the importance of both increasing the numbers and the skills of those working within the drug treatment sector and that is why it has identified workforce issues as one of their priority work areas. Latest reports from drug action team (DAT) treatment plans suggest that the workforce is currently growing ahead of target.
The treatment plan envisages growth of 350 posts between 2002–03 and 450 between 2003–04. DATs are currently reporting growth of 1,088 posts 2002–03 and are projecting a further 680 between 2003–04.
The majority of the funding for alcohol treatment is spent via the general budgets of primary care trusts and local social services departments, which is consistent with provision being determined following a local consideration of need. This method of funding 36WA means that it is not possible to give details of current or planned future spending on alcohol treatment, but latest estimates indicate that around £95 million is spent each year on treatment in England, and that most of this funding is provided by the Government.