IN VIDEO and PICTURES: Iain Duncan Smith in Cannock visit: Recovery centres can help save lives

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Iain Duncan Smith opened a new project for recovering addicts in Cannock yesterday, describing it as a shining beacon for the Government.

The bedsit and adjoining tea room in High Green will give ex-addicts the chance to put a roof over their heads and work for a living. Mr Duncan Smith said the Government will aim to create similar establishments across the country.

The Burton Addiction Centre (BAC) runs a successful scheme in Burton and has opened the Cannock branch as bosses said the town has a drug problem which the facility will help to combat.

Comedian Russell Brand is also a keen supporter of the Burton Addiction Centre and is backing the Recovery House and the tea rooms. Mr Duncan Smith reserved special praise for the BAC's chief executive Noreen Oliver.

He said: "I've been supportive of Noreen for a long time and I wouldn't have missed this for all the world. There's going to be a Government drive to get much more recovery and rehabilitation rather than just putting someone on methadone, as that's not working.

"Noreen is a living example of what we should be doing. I think in six to nine months time people will come to love this centre as they already do in Burton.

"They'll come to ask themselves what they can do to help."

During the visit Mr Duncan Smith said he disagreed with calculations by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) which suggested Government tax cuts could see some of the country's hardest working families up to £1,300 worse off.

The changes have been approved by the House of Commons, with only a handful of Conservatives rebelling.

Ahead of his visit a handful of Green Party members held a protest outside the building, waving placards and flags. They are unhappy over the ongoing proposed cuts. But Mr Duncan Smith said the reforms will not mean people are worse off – as they are mitigated by other changes to the system. He said: "I don't agree with the IFS figures.

"There are areas we are looking at like raising the threshold of tax and bringing in the living wage, which will add enormously to people's incomes.

"We'll work with everybody to make sure people get the right choice to improve their incomes."

As the man who oversaw the imposition of the bedroom tax, Mr Duncan Smith has been the target of much vitriol – both in person and particularly on social media.

But he said none of the vicious attacks have much effect on him and he is focused on going about his work.

"I don't read Twitter," he said. "There's always going to be people out there who just don't get what you're doing – but they're in a minority and the views are extreme.

"They're the same people that were up at the Conservative conference spitting at journalists and other people." The opening of the centre was also welcomed by Councillor Muriel Davis, cabinet member for health on Cannock Chase District Council.

She said: "I think it's wonderful. The principles they're working by are fantastic.

"If we don't get success here then I don't know what else we can do to tackle addiction, as they've thought of absolute everything. The offer of jobs and helping people get qualifications is wonderful and really important.

"It's going to be great for the community. When people see what a difference it makes to people's lives they will want to come here and help." Alan White, cabinet member for health, care and wellbeing at Staffordshire County Council said: "This is fantastic news for those people in Cannock who are recovering from alcohol and drug issues.

"Not only will they get access to support and short-term accommodation, they will also have the opportunity to work in Langan's Tea Rooms to help build their confidence, mix with the public and get work experience to help turn their lives around.

"By changing our approach to substance misuse, we estimate around 20 per cent or 400 more people will benefit from better, more joined up services."