HC Deb 18 November 1998 vol 319 cc924-6
4. Mr. Simon Hughes (Southwark, North and Bermondsey)

If he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's priorities for reducing drugs misuse in 1998 and 1999. [58914]

6. Mr. Hugh Bayley (City of York)

If he will make a statement about the Government's policies to curb the use of illicit drugs. [58918]

The Minister for the Cabinet Office (Dr. Jack Cunningham)

The Government's anti-drugs strategy, "Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain", published in April this year, established a framework for action over the next 10 years. On 1 September, I announced £217 million of additional funding over the next three years for anti-drugs activities, in line with the strategy. Our long-term targets are to reduce drug misuse by young people, to reduce drug-related crime, to increase participation in drug treatment and to reduce the availability of drugs. Specific short and medium-term targets will be in place by March 1999. Locally, drug action teams are now drawing up action plans for 1999–2000.

Mr. Hughes

I welcome those four targets. Will the Minister dwell on the last of them and ensure that his discussions are widened to bring in the Department of Health, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department for Education and Employment so that we have a culture that reduces the use of illegal drugs and the unnecessary use of all drugs, especially tobacco and alcohol?

Dr. Cunningham

I am grateful for the hon. Gentleman's support for what we are trying to achieve in our new strategy, but my responsibilities focus on illegal use of drugs. I would not for one moment deny the importance of the other issues that the hon. Gentleman raised, but they are not principally matters for me or for the Committee of Ministers, which I chair and which is doing just what he suggests in co-ordinating activity and action across Departments.

Mr. Bayley

Does my right hon. Friend agree that it should be head teachers who decide whether to exclude a pupil if that pupil is found in possession of drugs? Does he agree that the decision should reflect the individual circumstances of the case?

Dr. Cunningham

Yes, I agree. My hon. Friend simply reflects accurately what was said yesterday by my hon. Friend the Minister for School Standards.

Mrs. Ann Winterton (Congleton)

In his role of co-ordinating policy across Government, will the Minister ensure that the clear, unequivocal message against the use of illegal drugs is consistent? Perhaps he might have a word with the Prime Minister to ensure that his right hon. Friend does not in future invite to Downing street personalities such as those from the pop music world who are known to take drugs and who set such a poor example to the young who idolise them.

Dr. Cunningham

I begin by congratulating the right hon. Lady—

Mrs. Winterton

Hon. Lady.

Dr. Cunningham

I beg her pardon.

Mrs. Winterton

Only a matter of time.

Dr. Cunningham

It is, indeed, only a matter of time. I congratulate the hon. Lady on her new position on the Front Bench, and I thank her for her co-operation in taking a non-partisan approach to these issues. I hope that the shadow Secretary of State for Education and Employment will also revert to taking that non-partisan approach on the illegal use of drugs. We are concerned with the impact of drugs on children and young people, and that simply is not a party political issue.

I am very pleased to be able to say that the Prime Minister's guest lists for 10 Downing street are not a matter for me and fall within none of my responsibilities.

Mrs. Irene Adams (Paisley, North)

I congratulate my right hon. Friend on his efforts to reduce use of illegal drugs. Will he join me in congratulating the groups which have come together over the past three years in Paisley, North to fight the menace of drugs, and which, by doing so, have reduced violent crime by 36 per cent. over that period? Does my right hon. Friend agree that only when every section of the community comes together can that kind of progress be made?

Dr. Cunningham

Yes, I agree. We are willing and determined to work with local drugs action teams and other organisations, and I pay tribute to them. I also pay tribute to my hon. Friend for the courageous stance that she has consistently taken in her constituency and in wider Scottish debates.