Written question asked by Humfrey Malins (Conservative) on Tuesday, 8 January 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 10 January 2008. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Wednesday, 16 January 2008 on behalf of the Home Office.

Drugs: Voluntary Organisations

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will outsource drug work currently undertaken by statutory authorities to private charities; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: The pooled treatment budget for substance misuse (PTB) and the young people's substance misuse partnership grant (YPSMPG) is allocated to each one of 149 local drug action teams (DATs). Together with mainstream funding, DATs use this to meet locally assessed needs by commissioning services for drug work, such as treatment and education, from a range of providers which can include private charities, as well as voluntary and statutory organisations.

Secondary information