Written question asked by Iris Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party) on Tuesday, 14 June 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 16 June 2005. It was answered by Shaun Woodward (Labour) on Thursday, 23 June 2005 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Addiction

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funding has been provided for addiction (a) treatment and (b) rehabilitation in the Province in each of the last 10 years.

Answer: The information requested on funding for drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation is not available centrally.In relation to rehabilitation, this is an integral part of all drug and alcohol treatment whether community or inpatient based. The cost of this generic rehabilitation cannot be disaggregated from the total costs of such programmes. The majority of drug rehabilitation can and does take place in the community as part of an overall community care and rehabilitation programme and provision exists within each board area to refer individuals to residential rehabilitation centres outside Northern Ireland if deemed to be clinically appropriate.I will write to the hon. Lady with the information as soon as it is received from health and social services boards.

Secondary information