§ Mr. Corbettasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice and guidance is offered by his Department to local education authorities on the training of teachers to counter the misuse of drugs.
§ Mr. DunnLocal education authorities have been sent copies of the Department's booklet "Drug Misuse and the Young" which provides information about the drugs problem and how the world of education can help to tackle it. All the local education authorities in England are taking part in the Department's two main initiatives in this area, by appointing drugs co-ordinators funded through the education support grant, and by applying for money from the new in-service training grant which enables teachers to learn about the dangers of drug misuse and how they can help those pupils at risk.
The Department has issued a newsletter for the drug coordinators advising them of all the initiatives being taken in the education service aimed at tackling drug misuse. I have also commended to the local education authorities the DHSS sponsored video, "Double Take" and the Health Education Council's "Drugwise" teacher training materials.
Various HMI publications have also made reference to the drugs problem.
§ Mr. Corbettasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will detail projects currently wholly or partly funded by his Department to enhance the training of teachers to counter the misuse of drugs.
§ Mr. Dunn£1.5 million has been allocated from the new in-service teacher training grant scheme to be spent by local education authorities on training teachers about the dangers of drug misuse and how they might help those young people at risk. £4 million from the education232W support grant has been made available over two financial years to fund the appointment of drug co-ordinators, whose role involves providing advice, support and training for teachers. The Department funded "Drugwise"—the Health Education Council's training and educational package for teachers and other professionals—at a cost of £86,000. This is now generally available.