§ 4. Mrs. Ann Winterton (Congleton)When he last met the United Kingdom anti-drugs co-ordinator to discuss the implementation of Her Majesty's Government's anti-drugs strategy in Wales. [85158]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Jon Owen Jones)My right hon. Friend and I met the UK anti-drugs co-ordinator on 4 February 1999 to discuss plans for tackling substance misuse in Wales. From 1 July, this will be a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.
§ Mrs. WintertonFollowing the recent publication of the United Kingdom anti-drugs co-ordinator's first annual report and national plan, and bearing it in mind that the Minister for the Cabinet Office has conceded that Britain's drug abuse problem may grow worse before Government initiatives can have any significant impact, what specific plans does the Minister have to combat the rising tide of heroin abuse and drug-related crime in Wales?
Mr. JonesI welcome the hon. Lady's concern, and I know that she has expressed anxieties on this subject for 635 a number of years. In Wales, we have a strategy called "Forward Together" which seeks to implement key elements of the UK strategy in a way that is applicable to Wales. We have a social inclusion fund amounting to £48 million over the next three years, £4.5 million of which is earmarked to help with drug and alcohol action teams and with support for drug and alcohol problems, which are unfortunately as severe in Wales as they are throughout the United Kingdom.