§ 8. Mr. Ben Chapman (Wirral, South)If he will make a statement on his new targets to encourage closer co-operation between Government Departments to tackle drugs problems. [68651]
§ 9. Mr. Clive Efford (Eltham)If he will make a statement on the co-ordination of Government initiatives against drugs. [68652]
§ The Minister for the Cabinet Office (Dr. Jack Cunningham)The Government's 10-year strategy has four key targets: reducing young people's drug misuse, 311 reducing drug-related offending, increasing participation in drug treatment programmes and reducing access to drugs among young people. Under a public service agreement, all relevant Secretaries of State, and their agencies, are committed to working together to achieve those shared targets.
§ Mr. ChapmanIs my right hon. Friend aware that police in Wirral believe that considerable progress is being made as a result of that interdepartmental, multi-agency work? The police are concerned, however, that substances such as GHB are increasingly used by young people but, because such substances are not formally regarded as dangerous drugs, those youngsters are not caught by that activity. Will he take note of the views of Wirral police and consider them when those matters are next reviewed?
§ Dr. CunninghamYes, I will. This is where it is helpful to be an organic chemist: gamma hydroxy butyrate—the substance to which my hon. Friend refers—can cause damage to people and is not licensed for use in the United Kingdom as a drug; nor is it covered by United Nations drug conventions. We are aware that there is a small problem in some areas, which we keep under careful scrutiny. We are working with the Medicines Control Agency and others to ensure that this problem does not grow and get out of hand.
§ Mr. EffordMay I draw my right hon. Friend's attention to the concern in many communities about certain addresses that are clearly used for the sale of drugs, but which are not subject to checks by the relevant agencies? Although I appreciate that it takes time to investigate such matters, and that surveillance is often taking place, will he stress to those agencies that swift action often presents a better face to the community than letting such problems drift.
§ Dr. CunninghamOperational matters in connection with investigations into the abuse or illegal sale of drugs are not matters in which Ministers intervene, but if my hon. Friend has a particular problem in his constituency, and if he lets us know about it, we will certainly draw it to the attention of the appropriate authorities.
§ Mrs. Ann Winterton (Congleton)Will the Minister confirm that the Home Secretary—perhaps he could ask him—has recently written to chief constables, informing them that, in future, 1 per cent. of police budgets can be used for drug treatment purposes? Will the Minister have a word with his right hon. Friend to make certain that precious police resources are not siphoned from law enforcement, so that decent law-abiding people do not have their lives further blighted by drug-related crime and by the unsavoury activities of drug pushers and dealers?
§ Dr. CunninghamMy right hon. Friend is present and has heard what the hon. Lady says, but let me point out that, as recently as last autumn, we allocated an additional £217 million for use by drug action teams to add force and resources to the excellent work that they are doing in conjunction with the police and other authorities.
§ Mr. Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley)One of the Departments earmarked by the drugs tsar, Keith 312 Hellawell, was the Department for Education and Employment. What will the Minister do to ensure that proper resources are directed towards teachers, headmasters and those who work in schools to ensure that young children get the required message, which is that drugs are dangerous?
§ Dr. CunninghamThe hon. Gentleman raises a very important point: it is essential that we get advice and information to schools—teachers and pupils—about the danger posed to them by the misuse of drugs. The Department for Education and Employment was included in the overall package relating to drugs and will certainly gain additional resources, as I said in my reply to the hon. Member for Congleton (Mrs. Winterton) a few moments ago.