Central Drugs Co-ordination Unit

HC Deb 21 January 1994 vol 235 c904W

Mr. Page

To ask the Lord President of the Council what plans the Government have to set up a central drugs co-ordination unit.

Mr. Newton

My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary announced in a written answer on 16 December 1993,Official Report, column 780, that a central drugs co-ordination unit was to be attached to the Privy Council Office. The unit will come into being on 24 January 1994 and report to me as chairman of the Cabinet Committee on drugs issues.

Parliamentary approval to this new service will be sought in a spring supplementary estimate for the Privy Council vote—class XIX, vote 3. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure, estimated at £40,000, will be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.