§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans she has to provide a co-ordinated strategic lead from her Department on building community partnerships to tackle drug misuse;
(2) what is her response to the recommendation concerning investment in infrastructure to co-ordinate drug misuse policy made in the report commissioned by her Department from Roger Howard Associates;
(3) when she plans to publish the report "Across the Divide: Building Community Partnerships to Tackle Drug Misuse";
(4) whether the report "Across the Divide: Building Community Partnerships to Tackle Drug Misuse", was amended between January and April 1993; and whether she will make a statement.
§ Mr. BowisThe United Kingdom Government are committed to tackling every aspect of the drugs problem. On 16 December,Official Report, column 780, my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary announced the setting up of a central drugs co-ordination unit which will review our strategy across Government to help to ensure policies are well co-ordinated both at national and local level.
The report by Roger Howard Associates—"Across The Divide—Building Community Partnerships to Tackle Drug Misuse"—was published on 23 February. It is being distributed to health and local authorities and other interested agencies. It contains advice and recommendations for improving collaboration among local agencies to tackle the serious problem of drugs misuse. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library.
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Analysis by numbers and level of awards within regions A+ A B C Total Female at 31 December 1993 Northern — 1 2 29 32 Yorkshire — 3 3 18 24 Trent 1 2 8 24 35 East Anglia — — 5 13 18 North West Thames 1 10 13 44 68 North East Thames 2 6 19 76 103 South East Thames 1 6 10 41 58 South West Thames — 2 8 46 56 SHAs 3 6 13 26 48 Wessex — — 4 17 21 Oxford — 5 5 17 27 South Western — 2 4 12 18 West Midlands — 4 9 30 43 Mersey — 1 6 12 19 North Western — 1 9 24 34 Totals 8 44 118 421 591 Male at 31 December 1993 Northern 8 31 100 201 340 Yorkshire 10 36 103 224 373 Trent 15 46 118 285 464 East Anglia 12 27 65 129 233 North West Thames 17 62 103 225 407 North East Thames 23 85 147 313 568 South East Thames 21 53 117 285 476 South West Thames 9 30 96 166 301 SHAs 33 84 106 130 353 Wessex 3 30 70 171 274 Oxford 14 43 62 154 273 South Western 6 26 98 177 307 West Midlands 6 63 111 305 485 Mersey 9 32 62 143 246 North Western 12 38 109 266 425 Totals 190 645 1,395 3,074 5,304 The report touches on questions of national co-ordination which, together with its recommendations on local action, will be considered by the central drugs co-ordination unit. The remit of the study was, however, local and regional collaboration and the early draft of the report was revised to reflect this.