HC Deb 02 May 2000 vol 349 c83W
Mr. Lansley

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress the Government are making on their targets for reducing drug abuse by young people. [119975]

Mr. Ian McCartney

Young people are the main focus of the Government's anti-drug strategy. One of our key objectives is to reduce the incidence of drug misuse among the under-25s in order that they can achieve their full potential in society. The Cabinet Office, through the UK Anti Drugs Co-ordination Unit, is working with the relevant Government Departments to ensure that young people receive the help and advice they need to resist drug misuse.

For example, £7.5 million from the Standards Fund is spent each year on drugs education in primary and secondary schools and new DfEE guidance on effective drugs education was published in November 1998. Almost nine out of 10 secondary schools now have anti-drugs policies in place. In April 1999 the Drugs Prevention Advisory Service was created to provide expert advice and support to Drug Action teams and in November 1999 the Drugs Prevention Board was established to help co-ordinate prevention work at a national level. In March a new joint initiative between UKADCU, Sport England and the Youth Justice Board was announced, using money seized from convicted drug dealers and traffickers to fund projects which aim to prevent vulnerable young people from becoming involved in drugs and crime.

Progress against the targets will be measured through the British Crime Survey (16 to 24-year-olds) and the Office for National Statistics schools survey.

Mr. Lansley

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress is being made by the Government in establishing a baseline figure from which progress in meeting its targets on reducing drug abuse among young people can be measured. [119958]

Mr. Ian McCartney

Baseline figures for the number of young people using drugs will be taken from the British Crime Survey and the new national survey of drug use among young teenagers, which started in September 1999. Baseline figures will be published in the UK Anti-Drug Co-ordinator's annual report in the summer.