§ 54. Mr. RathboneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what drug demand reduction activities the Government plan to follow up the world ministerial drugs summit in London on 9 to 11 April.
§ Mr. MellorMy right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced in her opening address to the world ministerial drugs summit our plans to establish a United Kingdom664W task force to advise other countries on ways of reducing the demand for drugs. This task force will draw on the fund of experience and expertise which is available in the United Kingdom on such measures as community drug prevention initiatives, drugs education and publicity and programmes for the treatment and rehabilitation of drug misusers.
A detailed, 35-point political declaration, a copy of which is in the Library, was adopted unanimously at the conclusion of the summit. As well as committing all countries represented to give higher priority to demand reduction, the London declaration contains a host of useful practical guidance on specific measures which can or should be taken to reduce demand. We intend to honour fully the commitments undertaken on behalf of the United Kingdom, and we shall be looking to other countries and interested organisations represented at the summit to do the same. We are considering more specific ways in which the summit can be followed up.