Prison Service: Counselling
Justice
Written answers and statements, 5 November 2009
John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice
(1) how much has been spent on the Prison Service's Counselling Assessment Referral Advice and Throughcare scheme since its inception;
(2) what evaluation of the Prison Service's Counselling Assessment Referral Advice and Throughcare scheme has been undertaken.
Maria Eagle (Minister of State (also in the Government Equalities Office), Ministry of Justice; Liverpool, Garston, Labour)
The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) has kept figures on the total budget allocation for Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Throughcare services (CARATs) since it was established in 1999. These are set out in the following table.
| Total (£ million) | |
| 1999-2000 | 5.5 |
| 2000-01 | 8.8 |
| 2001-02 | 12.9 |
| 2002-03 | 14.3 |
| 2003-04 | 17.4 |
| 2004-05 | 22.3 |
| 2005-06 | (1)26.8 |
| 2006-07 | (1)30.3 |
| 2007-08 | (1)32.1 |
| (1) This includes NOMS funding for the integrated drug treatment system | |
CARATs is based on good practice and industry guidelines (such as the National Treatment Agency's Models of Care) which are evidenced as effective in a community setting.
A comprehensive CARATs review was conducted in 2003 which involved participation of over 500 stakeholders. The review was concluded in 2005 resulting in a new service specification, new CARATs casework file and the production of a CARATs Practice Manual.
A further review of the CARATs service is planned which will examine the current delivery of the CARAT service.