§ 43. Sir David Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in the Government's programme to reduce the traffic within the United Kingdom of illicit drugs.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggWe are continuing to step up action on all aspects of our anti-drugs strategy. Recent developments include the allocation by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer of 460 further posts for customs work, including 110 more specialist drugs investigators, support and legal staff; the establishment of 17 regional crime squad drugs wings manned by 221 additional police officers; further strengthening of the national drugs intelligence unit; and implementation of the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986. In 1986 customs broke up more than 80 drugs organisations, and police successes included the detection of 11 illicit amphetamine laboratories. Following last month's United Nations conference on drug abuse and illicit trafficking in Vienna, the United Kingdom is playing a leading role in current intergovernmental discussions concerning a proposed new United Nations convention on drug trafficking.