Violent Crime Reduction Bill

Further to the inquiry of my hon. Friend the Member for Clwyd, West (Mr. Jones), may I put it to the right hon. Gentleman that he should not lose sight of the importance of the drugs point? As I understand it, two thirds of the Government’s flagship drug rehabilitation places have been terminated without the individual participant in them completing his or her term, yet the Government envisage an expansion in the number of places. Will he confirm, if he is intending to go ahead with that expansion, that he has in mind the length of time that each placement should last and how he intends to ensure that participants complete their term?