Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve access to treatment and engagement with services for people experiencing alcohol dependence in South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency.

The Government is committed to ensuring that anyone with an alcohol problem can access the help and support they need, including in South Basildon and East Thurrock, and we recognise the need for evidence-based, high-quality treatment.

Local authorities are responsible for commissioning alcohol and drug treatment and recovery services as part of their public health responsibilities. As a condition of the Public Health Grant, local authorities are responsible for improving the uptake of, and outcomes from, their alcohol and drug treatment services, based on an assessment of local need and a plan which has been developed with local health and criminal justice partners. From 2026/27, all alcohol and drug treatment and recovery funding will be ringfenced and channelled through the Public Health Grant. Through the ringfenced funding, Essex will receive £11,023,044 in 2026/27 and indicative totals of £11,247,572 and £11,466,588 for 2027/28 and 2028/29 respectively. Thurrock will receive £1,588,644 in 2026/27 and indicative totals of £1,621,003 and £1,652,567 for 2027/28 and 2028/29 respectively.

The Department, with the support of partners from the devolved administrations, has developed and published the first ever United Kingdom clinical guidelines on alcohol treatment. This is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/clinical-guidelines-for-alcohol-treatment

The aim of the guidelines is to promote and support good practice and improve the quality of service provision, resulting in better outcomes for people experiencing harmful drinking and alcohol dependence.