§ Mr. Wheelerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a further statement on the progress that has been made in the fight against drugs since the ministerial group on drug abuse was set up two years ago.
§ Mr. HurdThe ministerial group on misuse of drugs, chaired by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, was set up in July 1984 to supervise the Government's five-point strategy against drug misuse. Since then it has implemented and co-ordinated a wide range of initiatives designed to stifle the supply of and the demand for drugs. The results have been impressive: we have seen more international action, more seizures, more arrests, greater awareness among the general public, and particularly the young, of the dangers of drug misuse, better services for drug misusers, more effective co-operation among service providers at local level, and more community action. Vital new legislation, with all-party support, to confiscate the proceeds of convicted drug traffickers has recently been enacted and will come into effect as soon as possible. I am placing in the Vote Office and the Library a summary of our initiatives and achievements since the group was established. The group has overseen substantial achievements. I pay tribute to the work of its chairman and members, both ministerial and official.
The situation is of course still very serious. Too many people are still willing to take drugs; the quantity of hard drugs available remains far too great. Our attack on drug misuse will be sustained as long as may be necessary.