DRUG AND ALCOHOL TREATMENT CHARITIES

That this House notes that several charity providers in the drugs and alcohol sector have had to merge recently as a result of financial difficulties; further notes that the Drugs, Alcohol and Justice Cross-Party Parliamentary Group has repeatedly warned that it was only a matter of time before a major provider would go out of business; recognises that the failure to heed such warnings has already contributed to the collapse of Lifeline; acknowledges that payment by results schemes are often poorly designed and used to save funds rather than drive performance; and calls on the Government to address the damaging and distressing disregard for the sector and take action to safeguard these vital services as a matter of urgency.