Challenge Now is to Ensure Extra Drug Treatment Cash Hits the Target

Press Release

3^rd September 2001

Challenge Now is to Ensure Extra Drug Treatment Cash Hits the Target - McNeil

MSP for Greenock & Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, has joined with Deputy Justice Minister, Iain Gray, in urging local communities to make the best possible use of extra drug treatment funding.

The Minister, speaking at the Community Drugs Conference in Port Glasgow Town Hall today, confirmed that £189,312 will be made available to Argyll & Clyde Health Board. The board, in conjunction with local Drug Action Teams, will be able to bid for money from this pot to fund one-off initiatives or to establish new services.

Mr McNeil, who was also attending the conference, welcomed the move, saying:

"This extra £189,312, coming on top of the additional £645,593 the Health Board received in the Comprehensive Spending Review, is a welcome boost to our community's fight against Drugs.

"But while it is the Scottish Parliament's responsibility to make sure the money is there, it is up to local communities to ensure that it is spent effectively.

"The challenge for the people of Inverclyde, then, is to make sure the extra cash hits the target.

"The Drug Action Team has a vital role in this - their experience on the ground is invaluable. I would therefore urge them to rise to this challenge and stake a strong claim to these funds."

ENDS

Notes

The money is part of the £28 million package for drugs announced in the Scottish Executive's budget in June. This builds on record multi-million pound investment in drugs services, already being rolled out across the country.
This year nearly £1 million will be made available to Health Boards across Scotland who will be able to bid, in conjunction with local Drug Action Teams, for money to fund one-off initiatives or to get new services off the ground.
Health Boards will be allocated £1.1 million for the following two financial years.

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