§ Mr. Rathboneasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the range of materials for drug misuse education which his Department proposes to fund for production through the Health Education Council and other bodies, indicating the reason for each item and the quantities in which each will be produced.
§ Mr. DunnWork on this project has started but is, as yet, in its early stages. The materials planned are
A manual for teachers and teaching materials—for use in drugs education;A curriculum guide to help ensure that drugs education is correctly located in the curriculum;A handbook for teacher trainers.These materials were selected to provide a comprehensive and coherent range of support for work in schools and colleges. Arrangements for dissemination will be considered in more detail as the poject proceeds but the intention is to make the materials readily available through existing networks.
§ Mr. Rathboneasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how he intends to assess the efficiency of activities against drug misuse undertaken by the new co-ordinators to be appointed by local education authorities in 1986.
§ Mr. DunnAn initial assessment will be based on the proposals contained in the bids submitted by local education authorities. Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools will be involved in this assessment process. Effectiveness will be judged subsequently on the basis of reports on the activities promoted.
§ Mr. Rathboneasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidelines he will be providing to help local education authority co-ordinators to stimulate the most effective activities against drug misuse.
§ Mr. DunnGeneral guidelines are set out in the DES circular on the education support grants programme for 1986–87 to be issued shortly. Existing types of activity vary and so it is expected that a range of activities will be 285W supported, in accordance with local needs. However, key activities are expected to be: providing advice and support for the local authority's schools and colleges and for other staff including youth workers; arranging for the training of staff, co-ordinating education service activity with that of other local agencies: and liaison with appropriate national bodies.
§ Mr. Rathboneasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how the additional funding of £2 million for drug misuse education will be applied in 1985–86 as between paying for co-ordinators, expansion of the local education authority advisory service, preparation and production of educational programmes to tie in with current Home Office publicity campaigns, the preparation of staff education programmes and joint programmes with outside agencies and with parent groups.
§ Mr. DunnThe allocation of funding will depend on the precise activities proposed by local education authorities in their responses to the circular which will be issued shortly. My right hon. Friend would expect that in most cases the majority of the expenditure will be incurred in staffing costs.