Duncan McNeil

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse · 17 Mar 2016

It is not possible to say how many people have become abstinent since the publication of The Road to Recovery. Moving forward, we are currently working closely with Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland, national commissioned organisations, Alcohol and Drug Partnerships and services to develop a new data collection system (the drug and alcohol information system (DAISy)) which will collect and report on drug and alcohol treatment and outcomes information, including abstinence.
It is important to note, however, that recovery for some individuals is not the same as abstinence. The Road to Recovery set out the importance of developing a system of care which ensured that individuals were offered a treatment and recovery package that best met their needs and aspirations. To that end, we can report that for the last full year of data available (April 2014 to March 2015) 20,801 drug treatments were started for 16,915 people.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse · 17 Mar 2016

The work of the Drugs Strategy Delivery Commission (DSDC) was concluded in November 2014. Since then, Scottish Government officials have been working closely with key stakeholders, including members of the former DSDC and other legacy groups, to develop a new Partnership for Action on Drugs in Scotland (PADS) group which will work collaboratively to lead and guide the sector going forward. This group was officially launched at its first meeting on 19 January 2016.
Consideration of membership for the PADS group reflected on the need to strike a balance between building on established sector wide expertise as well as incorporating new individuals who can bring a missing or fresh perspective. Where possible we sought to address equalities considerations and actively consider how those with lived experience can be engaged in the work.
PADS is directly accountable to the Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse · 28 Jan 2016

Scottish Government officials, members of the Drug Strategy Delivery Commission (DSDC) and other stakeholders reviewed the functions of the commission as well as those of the other groups which made up the drugs advisory landscape at that time. A joint decision was taken that the original work of the DSDC had been concluded and that a new approach was required going forward.
The work of the DSDC was concluded in November 2014. Since then, Scottish Government officials have been working closely with key stakeholders to develop a new ‘Partnership for Action on Drugs in Scotland’ (PADS) group which will work collaboratively with us, while also leading and guiding the sector going forward. This group was officially launched at its first meeting on Tuesday 19 January 2016.
The PADS group will also oversee and direct three new groups which will focus on building recovery-centred communities and tackling stigma (led by Celia Tennant, Chief Executive of Inspiring Scotland); quality and consistency of service planning and delivery (led by Colin Sloey, Director of Strategic Planning and Performance and Deputy Chief Executive in NHS Lanarkshire and Chair of Lanarkshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership); and minimising wider harms identified from problem drug use and to reduce drug-related deaths (led by Roy Robertson, Professor of Addiction Medicine at the University of Edinburgh and GP at Muirhouse Medical Group in Edinburgh).

Answer · Shona Robison · 13 Jan 2016

This information is contained within the Older People in Acute Hospitals inspection reports which are published on the Healthcare Improvement Scotland website. The reports can be accessed via the following link:
http://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.org/system_pages/published_resources_search.aspx?f=5:16169&q=

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse · 7 Jan 2016

This information is not held centrally.
The aim of the drug treatment and testing order (DTTO) is to reduce or eliminate an individual’s dependency or propensity to misuse drugs and thereby achieve positive changes in the scale and frequency of drug related offending. Criminal justice social work services provide intensive support to individuals on these orders to help them move away from offending. This includes helping them to access education and employment as part of a wider package of care, treatment and support.
Evidence shows DTTOs contribute positively towards reducing individuals’ drug misuse. A 2011 review of interventions for drug users in the Scottish criminal justice system by the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research (http://www.sccjr.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/SCCJR_REVIEW_OF_EFFECTIVENESS.pdf) found that DTTOs were associated with reductions in drug use and reoffending, with improved outcomes for those who complete these orders.

Answer · John Swinney · 11 Jan 2016

The cash underspend against HM Treasury Scottish budgets for each financial year since 2008-09 is provided in the following table. The underspend in each year has been carried forward in full to support expenditure plans in subsequent years.

£ million
2014-15*
204
2013-14
176
2012-13
179
2011-12
179
2010-11
12
2009-10
119
2008-09
124
*Provisional outturn – the final outturn position will be confirmed with HM Treasury in January 2016.