Written question asked by Paul Robert Holmes (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 4 December 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 8 December 2008. It was answered by Baroness Primarolo (Labour) on Thursday, 18 December 2008 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Drugs: Misuse

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the purpose is of the Drug Change Programme pilots; and what assessment he has made of the implications of the pilots for levels of bureaucracy in the administration of drug and alcohol treatment.

Answer: The purpose of the Drug System Change Pilots programme is to test the potential to make improvements that can make a real difference in the way drug provision is delivered at a regional and local level. In the Drug Strategy, 'Drugs: protecting families and communities (2008)', the Government made a commitment to test out new approaches to delivering services, which ensures the drug treatment system and broader social support services work more closely together and become more focused on improved outcomes, including more personalised and innovative services. A copy of the strategy has already been placed in the Library.This pilot programme will give drug partnerships the opportunity to develop new approaches that allow them to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and burdens. Funding will also be available to pilot areas to kick-start the pilots and help build capacity by funding the appointment of a project manager and administrative support.

Secondary information