Drugs: Advisory Services

Mr. Jenkins
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff were employed full-time at the national drugs helpline in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo
The National Drugs Helpline ceased in England in March 2003 and was replaced by the FRANK helpline in April 2003.

No staff are employed exclusively to FRANK on a full-time basis. The Central Office of Information advise that a total of 74 trained advisors are shared across other helpline services relating to alcohol and drugs abuse and sexual health services. This equates to 37.5 full-time equivalent advisors given the shift patterns the service is required to fill.

Mr. Jenkins
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the national drugs helpline's call capacity is.

Dawn Primarolo
The National Drugs Helpline ceased in England in March 2003 and was replaced by the FRANK helpline in April 2003.

The Central Office of Information advise that FRANK can handle an average of 63 telephone calls per hour.