§ Mr. RathboneTo ask the Secretary of State for Education how many regional conferences on her Department's draft circular, "Drug Prevention in Schools", have taken place; and what submissions have arisen from them.
§ Mr. ForthThe DFE is sponsoring a series of regional conferences to raise awareness of drugs issues and to stimulate debate at local level. I addressed the first of these in York on the 12 January, and further conferences are planned in Birmingham and Bristol. The initial response has been very positive, and will inform our programme of other initiatives on drug prevention and schools, including the preparation of final guidance to schools.