Written question asked by Lord Laird (Ulster Unionist Party), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Freud (Conservative) on Monday, 17 October 2011.

Benefits

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 3 October (WA 112), given that the review of the effectiveness of treatment for alcohol problems by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse indicated that almost 75 per cent of those alcoholic clients who participated in the United Kingdom alcohol treatment trials did not show a successful outcome, whether they will institute research into the proportion and amount of social security benefits expended by alcohol dependent claimants on their addiction.

Answer: The department has no plans to research the proportion and amount of benefits spent by claimants on alcohol. While a person's addiction may have led to unemployment or may have caused or exacerbated a medical condition, benefit payments are never made, or paid at an increased rate, solely because a person is dependent on alcohol.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 12301; 731 c7WA
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Health: Alcoholism
Monday, 3 October 2011
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Alcoholic drinks Misuse Social security benefits Rehabilitation Research
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk