HC Deb 07 May 2003 vol 404 cc746-7W
Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the additional funding announced for tackling drug misuse on 21 January will be spent on drug treatment; and if he will make a statement. [109585]

Mr. Bob Ainsworth

My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced on 21 January a package of measures to fight crime and drug abuse, backed by £190 million of new investment. This included £12.6 million in new resources in 2003–04, a 28 per cent. increase over 2002–03, to support the development of drug treatment services in the 30 areas with the highest levels of drug related crime, as part of the £236 million national pooled treatment budget.

Mr. Cummings

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many successful prosecutions there were for the dealing of drugs in the Easington area in(a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002. [111202]

Mr. Bob Ainsworth

The information requested is not available at constituency level. However, data from the Home Office Court Appearances Database show that the number of persons in the Durham police force area who were successfully prosecuted for offences involving 'dealing' in illegal drugs in 2000 was 147. These are the latest figures available at the present time.