§ Mr. Nichollsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the Government's current campaign against drug pushers.
§ Mr. MellorWe are continuing to step up action on all aspects of our strategy. Recent developments include the agreement of European Community Ministers, at a meeting chaired by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, to a seven-point plan for combating drug misuse. The announcement by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer that 460 further posts will be allocated for customs work, including 110 more specialist drugs investigators, support and legal staff; the introduction of subordinate legislation to control the so-called "designer drugs"; and the implementation of a number of the provisions of the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986 as part of a phased implementation programme which will be completed as quickly as possible. In 1985 nearly 5,000 people were convicted of drug trafficking offences, an increase of about 20 per cent. compared with 1984.