Written question asked by Keith Vaz (Labour) on Thursday, 11 August 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 6 September 2011. It was answered by Baroness Teather (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 12 September 2011 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Drugs: Misuse

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment he has made of the compliance of drug addiction treatment for young people in secure estate and care homes with NHS guidelines.

Answer: The national specification for substance misuse available via"http://yjbpublications.justice.gov.uk/Scripts/prodView.asp? idproduct=443&eP"sets out the guidelines for young people in the secure estate. Compliance with the national specification was monitored by the Youth Justice Board up until March 2011 as part of their broader performance management arrangements. Responsibility for substance misuse services within the secure estate has now transferred to the Department for Health.Looked after children placed in children's homes should have access to the full range of support for drug and alcohol misuse provided by the local young people's substance misuse services.Young people's specialist substance misuse services are monitored through the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS). In 2009-10, 4% of young people accessing specialist drug and alcohol services were identified as looked after children. Information on performance, including speed of access to services, and successful completions is published annually by the NTA.

Secondary information