Select committee: Public Accounts Committee
Conclusion 14
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)
While the strategy has a 10-year timescale to achieve its intended outcomes, its funding allocations are restricted to government Spending Review periods, typically for two to four years.42 When asked about how they could provide greater assurance to local bodies on longer-term funding, departments told us they were unable to do this because “that is not how spending reviews work” and that the existence of a 10-year strategy “was the best reassurance that we can give”.43 Ms Wiseman told us that the lack of longer-term certainty posed risks for local authorities and implementing bodies, especially in their ability to plan for the long-term and recruit the best people. When they are only able to 33 Qq 55, 58 34 Q 4; C&AG’s Report para 2.12 35 Q 23 36 Qq 15,31 37 Q 124 38 C&AG’s Report paras 13, 2.10 39 Qq 33, 88 40 Qq 32–35 41 Committee of Public Accounts, Alcohol treatment services, Fifty-Fourth Report of Session 2022–23, 24 May 2023, para 13 42 Background to the 2020 Spending Review – House of Commons Library (parliament.uk) 43 Qq 87, 93 12 Reducing the harm from illegal drugs offer 12-month contracts, it is difficult to recruit and train staff to work with the most vulnerable people in society, and there is a need to offer contracts beyond 2025 to enable people to develop careers in the sector.44
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.