HC Deb 10 June 1996 vol 279 cc40-1W
34. Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Lord President of the Council what evidence he has evaluated that suggests that the taking of soft drugs leads to the taking of hard drugs; and if he will make a statement. [30637]

Mr. Newton

The Government have neither commissioned nor evaluated evidence on this specific point as we do not find the distinction between so-called hard and soft drugs helpful: all illegal drugs carry physical and mental health risks.

36. Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on measures to combat drug abuse. [30639]

Mr. Newton

The Government's drugs strategy for England for the period 1995–98, "Tackling Drugs Together", was published on 10 May 1995. In answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Lewes (Mr. Rathbone) on 13 May,Official Report, columns 341–42, I described the considerable progress made in implementing the strategy during its first year, and on 14 May I wrote to all hon. Members in England outlining the work of drug action teams. Similar strategies are in place in the other parts of the United Kingdom.

38. Lady Olga Maitland

To ask the Lord President of the Council what progress he had made in ensuring provision of resources for drug rehabilitation. [30641]

Mr. Newton

The Government's policy is to ensure that individual drug misusers have access to a range of advice, counselling, treatment, rehabilitation and after-care services. The independent task force set up to undertake a review of effective treatment services for drug misusers has reported to Ministers and its report was published on 1 May. Guidance to purchasers will be issued in the summer. Additional resources are being made available this year to boost drug treatment services: an extra £6 million will go to health authorities, and £5.1 million will be invested in treatment programmes in the Prison Service.