Welfare Reform Bill
12:00 pm
Mr. McNulty: In the first instance, what we have said and what we would like to do is, again, pilot. I do not say that in any apologetic way; these are very sensitive areas and we need to make sure that it works, and works well. Clearly, we can control pilots in England and we are working and talking with the Scottish and Welsh Governments to take pilots forward too. Although determined nationally, resources used at the localised level in terms of treatment and priorities are very important, which is why we need to work with people.
I have spoken to the Scottish Minister and there is a drug strategy unfolding in Scotland, but there are concerns that the treatment provision is so inadequate, which is not enough, but it just is. There is up to an almost 52-week referral in some cases, so Scotland needs time for the provision to improve before it starts the pilot. I am happy to work within those timelines and we are having similar discussions with the Welsh Government.
In an English context, the provisions, at their very best—this is not true of everywhere—allow for almost same-day referral, and in average terms it takes three or four weeks. I therefore think that the treatment architecture exists for the numbers, in the first instance, of crack and heroin users for the matter to be taken forward.