CRACKDOWN ON ADDICTS 'BLOCKED BY SNP'

UK Minsters are accusing the SNP Government of deliberately
sabotaging a key policy that would force drug addicts to seek help or
lose benefits.

Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell claims the Scottish
Government is refusing to hand over details of the drug problem north
of the border, effectively "blocking" the UK-wide policy.

On Tuesday, Purnell will outline moves to stop benefits being paid to
crack and heroin addicts unless they agree to try to break their habit.

He says it is unacceptable for taxpayers' money to be effectively
handed straight to drug dealers across Britain.

SNP ministers oppose the measures, arguing that they will force drug
addicts to fall back into a life of crime. Purnell claims that when UK
officials tried to find out how many crack and heroin addicts were on
benefits in Scotland, they were denied the information by the Scottish
Government.

The row now looks set to throw the Edinburgh and London
administrations into an unprecedented constitutional battle.

The UK Government has control over benefits payments across the UK.
But Scottish ministers are in overall charge of the NHS and anti-drugs
policy in Scotland, meaning they would have to administer the changes.

Speaking exclusively to Scotland on Sunday, Purnell said: "The SNP
Government has complained that there is not enough evidence (to push
through the plans], yet they are now blocking attempts to reassess the
problem in Scotland."

Purnell said researchers at Glasgow University had been asked to
compile new data on the number of drug addicts on benefits. He added:
"They (the SNP Government] are saying they're not prepared to release
the evidence. I challenge Alex Salmond to allow his officials to
release this data, stop blocking NHS drug treatment for people on
benefits and tell his MPs to vote for these plans on Tuesday."

A UK Government source said: "A revised estimate using more recent
data has been carried out elsewhere in the UK. However, despite
complaining there was not enough evidence to support the UK Labour
Government's plans, the SNP Government has blocked our statisticians
from having access to the new data."