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| Alcoholics could see benefits cut | Alcoholics could see benefits cut |
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| Alcoholics face having their benefits docked if they do not get treatment, under government plans. | Alcoholics face having their benefits docked if they do not get treatment, under government plans. |
| Minister James Purnell has announced a review into the idea to be carried out jointly by the Department of Health and Department for Work and Pensions. | Minister James Purnell has announced a review into the idea to be carried out jointly by the Department of Health and Department for Work and Pensions. |
| Measures that require drug addicts to get treatment in order to keep receiving benefits are currently going through Parliament. | Measures that require drug addicts to get treatment in order to keep receiving benefits are currently going through Parliament. |
| Mr Purnell said they wanted to help people get the help they needed. | Mr Purnell said they wanted to help people get the help they needed. |
| Speaking on a visit to Dewsbury Moor in West Yorkshire, he said: "We have introduced a new policy that will mean heroin and crack addicts get treatment in return for benefits. | Speaking on a visit to Dewsbury Moor in West Yorkshire, he said: "We have introduced a new policy that will mean heroin and crack addicts get treatment in return for benefits. |
| "We will actually help them rather than simply handing them money which ends up in pockets of drug dealers. | "We will actually help them rather than simply handing them money which ends up in pockets of drug dealers. |
| "But we can't abandon anyone to long periods on benefits without help to overcome problems. | "But we can't abandon anyone to long periods on benefits without help to overcome problems. |
| "So that's why we are going to look at the arrangements for alcoholics on benefits, just as we did for problem drug users, so that people get the help they need to get sober, to get their life back and get back to work." | "So that's why we are going to look at the arrangements for alcoholics on benefits, just as we did for problem drug users, so that people get the help they need to get sober, to get their life back and get back to work." |
| Mr Purnell has previously said that the plans to cut drug addicts' benefits would give them the chance to "turn their lives around". | Mr Purnell has previously said that the plans to cut drug addicts' benefits would give them the chance to "turn their lives around". |
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