§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that places on drug and alcohol programmes are not disproportionately allocated to those convicted of criminal activity. [184232]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe National Treatment Agency is committed to ensuring that treatment services provide a quick and accessible service for all substance 1281W misusers requiring treatment. Drug action teams have local responsibility for ensuring that treatment services are provided.
The Government are committed to doubling the numbers of drug misusers in treatment by 2008 and improving access into treatment from both community and criminal justice routes.
The Government are on track to meet this target. In 2002–03, there were 140,900 drug misusers in treatment.