§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Department of Education and Science the Home Department and the Department of Health and Social Security in dealing with the drug abuse problem among the pupil and the student population; and if she will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterYes; there is excellent coordination between all the Departments in this matter. The main link is the ministerial group on the misuse of drugs which has been in existence for almost two years and has been the forum in which the Government's comprehensive and closely co-ordinated strategy has been formulated. The group is chaired by my hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Mr. Mellor), Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, and the Members at present include my hon. Friend the Member for Dartford (Mr. Dunn), Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science, and my hon. Friend the Member for Wycombe (Mr. Whitney), Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health. Other Departments, including those with other education and health interests, are also represented. The most recent evidence of the group's coherent approach is provided by the latest edition of the document, "Tackling Drug Misuse: a Summary of the Government's Strategy," which has recently become available.