SNP ATTACKS THREAT TO DRUGS AGENCY

The threatened closure of one of Scotland's most respected voluntary drugs
agencies because of the withdrawal of council funding, highlights the "big
gap between the rhetoric of the Prime Minister and the reality on the
ground," SNP leader Alex Salmond told First Minister Donald Dewar yesterday.

Following the disclosure by The Herald that the Grampian Addiction Problems
Service faced possible closure within weeks, the subject was raised at a
meeting between the two politicians to discuss drugs issues.

The agency is based in Fraserburgh, officially recognised as having the
worst heroin problem in Scotland. Almost all of its funding comes from
Aberdeenshire Council, which is to discuss a recommendation that its
UKP3600 grant be stopped because of financial pressures facing the council.

Mr Salmond said: "The Prime Minister came to the Scottish Parliament and
spoke about the drugs menace and how we should be doing everything possible
to combat it, but the reality on the ground is that a vital service like
Gaps is having its funding withdrawn - the only voluntary service both in
my constituency and in Aberdeenshire."

Mr Colin McKenzie, head of social work for Aberdeenshire said: "Although
this is a significant sum of money to Gaps it is not a large sum of money,
and we would hope Gaps being a voluntary organisation may be able to make
up some of that deficit if that is the council's recommendation at the end
of the day."

A spokesman for the Scottish Executive claimed Aberdeenshire's budget had
been increased by UKP8.6m.

He said: "The local Drugs Action Team was unaware of this proposal but has
been told of it today by the Executive."

They now expected the DAT to discuss with the council the implications of
the proposal.