§ 5. Mr. Peter Viggers (Gosport)If he will make a statement about drug abuse in rural Wales. [61563]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Jon Owen Jones)Drug misuse is a threat to all our communities, whether rural or otherwise. We are determined to tackle this very serious problem.
§ Mr. ViggersDoes the Minister believe that people who are convicted of drug supply offences should be deprived of public housing and, if so, should that happen in rural Wales or in the whole of the United Kingdom?
Mr. JonesHow best to deal with drugabuse and the housing problems suffered not just by the drug abusers but by their families is a difficult problem which must be considered in an holistic way.
§ Mr. Elfyn Llwyd (Meirionnydd Nant Conwy)The Minister refers to an holistic way. How precisely will the drugs problem in rural Wales be tackled? A few years ago, there was no problem in rural areas, but now there is a huge problem. What approach will be adopted, which agencies will be involved and what will be done?
Mr. JonesIn Wales, we have embarked on a strategy of having five drug and alcohol action teams, which help to co-ordinate all the important agencies—social services, education, the police, the Prison Service and the probation service. That is what I mean by an holistic approach to the problem, which is complex, not single-issue. We need to bring in all the agencies that will be involved in trying to help with this difficult and growing problem.