HC Deb 23 January 1986 vol 90 cc264-5W
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on recent initiatives taken within the Government's overall strategy for tackling drug abuse.

Mr. Mellor

We continue to give a very high priority to our comprehensive strategy for tackling drug misuse. Since 1 January we have announced record provisional figures for customs' seizures in 1985; and the continuation of our successful prevention campaign, beginning with the launch of a two-part video package for young people. Our Drug Trafficking Offences Bill, which is now before Parliament, constitutes a further major initiative against drug trafficking. We have also recently announced the provision of an additional £5 million a year to health authorities from 1986–87 specifically for the expansion of services for drug misusers.

45. Dr. Twinn

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will itemise the special resources which Her Majesty's Government have so far committed to the main elements of their strategy on drug misuse.

Mr. Mellor

Since 1 January 1985 we have announced provision for:

  1. (i) £1.5 million over three years to combat drug production and trafficking in South America and elsewhere;
  2. (ii) a further £2.4 million aid grant to help to eradicate opium poppy cultivation in Pakistan;
  3. (iii) the creation of drugs wings in police regional crime squads, involving a 20 per cent. increase in their manpower, and the enhancement of the national drugs intelligence unit;
  4. (iv) 50 more customs specialist investigators in 1985–86;
  5. (v) 350 additional posts in 1986–87 for customs work (mainly on the prevention of drug smuggling);
  6. (vi) a projected rise of over £12 million from 1984–85 and 1988–89 in customs expenditure on equipment and other drug-related items;
  7. (vii) an increase to over £17 million of the fund to pump-prime local projects for drug misusers for three years;
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  8. (viii) from 1986–87, an additional £5 million a year to health authorities specifically for the expansion of services for drug misusers.

Many of our main continuing programmes also contribute to our strategy: for example, the value of urban programme support for drug projects is now nearly £1 million each year.