§ 23. Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the co-ordination 867W taking place between his Department, other Whitehall departments and the Wales Assembly to combat drug abuse and drug-related crime. [76080]
§ Mr. TouhigThe UK Government, both the Wales Office and other Whitehall Departments, are committed to working with the National Assembly for Wales to tackle drug abuse and drug-related crime in Wales; I have regular meetings with my Ministerial colleagues, both in Whitehall and in the Assembly, to discuss these issues.
The National Assembly has developed its own strategy for tackling substance misuse: "Tackling Substance Misuse: A Partnership Approach". This strategy focuses on the problems in Wales and has Welsh solutions. This is one of the strengths of devolution: it enables the unique situations in Wales to be addressed by solutions that are tailor made for our communities.
In addition, the UK Government, working in conjunction with the National Assembly, is working to tackle the underlying causes of social deprivation. People in more affluent areas have better opportunities and life choices than people in deprived areas, who may turn to drugs as a means of escaping from their lifestyles.