Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, following reports that £162 million has been cut from drug and alcohol treatment budgets in England since 2013–14, what plans they have made to ensure effective treatment and care is provided for people affected by alcoholism and other addictions.
The Government has committed £16 billion in funding to local councils over the current five year spending review period to tackle public health issues which includes alcohol and drug treatments. Any decisions on the commissioning of effective drug and alcohol prevention and treatment services are the responsibility of local authorities based on an assessment of local need, however public health grant conditions make it clear that they must have regard for the need to improve the take up of, and outcomes from, their drug and alcohol misuse treatment services.