§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to increase awareness among students in higher education of the dangers of drug abuse. [5082]
§ Mr. HowellsHigher Education Institutions are independent autonomous bodies. They contribute to the effort to tackle drug misuse by individually adopting rules governing the prohibition of drugs from college premises and disciplinary sanctions. They also provide welfare and counselling services for their students. The Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals and the Standing Conference of Principals were invited to encourage the higher education sector to provide appropriate prevention, counselling and support services for their students and to put in hand whatever further action they considered to be necessary.
The Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals and the Standing Conference of Principals published guidance on 20 June 1997 on information provision and education for students and staff, support infrastructure (internal and external), disciplinary procedures, staff awareness and training, liaison between institutions and local community expertise. The guidance was issued to all higher education institutions in the UK and to all members of the Association of Managers of Student Services in Higher Education.
The Government will be appointing a 'drug czar' to co-ordinate our action against drugs. One of his or her first tasks will be to revise urgently the existing drugs strategy, and put forward proposals for tackling the problem with renewed vigour.