Recommendation 14

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