Select committee: Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 9
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 ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
The introduction of the From harm to hope strategy has led to positive change. The appointment of a Combating Drugs minister and the nomination of the Home Office permanent secretary as senior responsible owner, alongside the creation of the Joint Combating Drugs Unit (JCDU), has improved coordination across six departments.21 Further, the creation of 106 new combating drugs partnerships has increased collaboration and accountability at a local level.22 We heard from Dame Carol and Mr Trace that these new structures were welcome and created the right “architecture” to implement the strategy, with stronger linkages between local and national government. The JCDU has done a good job so far, including articulating the strategy’s long-term outcomes, but Dame Carol considered that the JCDU needed strengthening as it was under resourced.23
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.