Written question asked by Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 5 January 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 26 January 2004. It was answered by Paul Goggins (Labour) on Monday, 26 January 2004 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average time was between the referral by courts of individuals with criminal convictions for drug or alcohol treatment and the commencement of their treatment programmes in each of the last five years.

Answer: Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time was between the referral by courts of individuals with criminal convictions for drug or alcohol treatment and the commencement of their treatment programmes in each of the last five years. [146539] Paul Goggins: Information relating to the national average waiting time to access drug or alcohol treatment by offenders in the community in each of the last five years is not available. However, since October 2000 drug treatment can only be imposed by the courts as a provision of a drug treatment and testing order (DTTO). The DTTO National Standard requires that appointments are arranged to take place with the Probation Service within one working day and with the treatment provider within two working days of the order being made and this is being achieved in over 75 per cent. of cases. From 2004-05 areas have been set a target to increase this performance to 90 per cent.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 417 c208W; 146539
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Alcoholic drinks Drugs Offenders Misuse Rehabilitation Waiting lists Rehabilitation centres
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk