Select committee: Public Accounts Committee
Conclusion 8
Eleventh Report - Reducing the harm from illegal drugs
Published 9 Feb 2024
Addressed to HM Treasury
Public Accounts Committee Reducing the harm from illegal drugs All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
We were also concerned that the JCDU and departments would not be able to develop a sufficient evidence base in the time available. They have begun to collect evidence on ‘what works’ but told us that timing was an issue and there would be limited evidence on the programme. However, health interventions are based on clinical best practices and evaluation would provide some early evidence of impacts. The JCDU also said that Project ADDER, which pre-dated the strategy, would be evaluated and there were examples of progress in several local authority areas.19 In written evidence after the session DHSC also highlighted that clinical research for drug treatment and recovery interventions was being 9 Qq 3, 4 10 C&AG’s Report para 1.2 11 Qq 3, 57, 58 12 Q 4 13 Qq 3, 5, 23, 55, 115, 130 14 Q 100 15 Q 63 16 Q 38 17 C&AG’s Report para 16 18 Q 98 19 Qq 99, 100, 115 10 Reducing the harm from illegal drugs carried out at several UK institutions, including the universities of Bristol, St Andrews and Imperial College London. It will also commission further research as part of the new Addiction Mission.20 The need for a collaborative and flexible approach
From: Public Accounts Committee, Eleventh Report - Reducing the harm from illegal drugs (HC 72), 9 February 2024
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 2 April 2024.
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government states that it agrees with the Committee's recommendation on each of the six conclusions, giving target implementation dates of the end of 2024, March 2025 or April 2025, and describing one as already implemented.
- On sustained investment, the government agrees, and says the Joint Combating Drugs Unit and departments are "focused on developing a strong joint case for investment" at the next spending review, with a target date of the end of 2024.
- On funding certainty for local authorities, the government agrees and lists the recommendation as implemented. It says it "will give as much notice as is feasible" of future allocations, and published 2024-25 Public Health Grant allocations on 5 February 2024.
- On variations in local outcomes, the government agrees, with a target of March 2025. It cites targeted work by DHSC with 19 local authority areas, including "tailored performance improvement plans", and ongoing evaluation of local delivery.
- On reducing demand, the government agrees, with a target of April 2025. It "recognises there is more to do" and says work is underway to bring together the evidence, including a new cross-government innovation fund.