Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how long it takes on average to deliver an accredited drug treatment programme in prison in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Information on accredited drug programmes is not collected by the Department. These programmes are designed and delivered by Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service.

In England, substance misuse treatment is commissioned by NHS England in line with the United Kingdom Guidelines on Clinical Management and the NHS England ‘Substance Misuse in Prisons’ service specification set out at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/service-specification-integrated-substance-misuse-treatment-service-prisons-in-england/

Substance misuse interventions begin at the point of first reception screening in prisons and continue for as long as required – often out into the community post-release.