HC Deb 28 October 1996 vol 284 c35W
Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) on what occasions she has visited the Nottinghamshire DARE programme; and if she will make a statement. [400]

(2) what estimates she has made of the cost of ensuring all nine-year-olds undertook a 17-week DARE course on social skills. [401]

Mrs. Gillan

My right hon. Friend has not visited the Nottinghamshire drug abuse resistance educationDARE—programme, but officials of the Department maintain regular contact with DARE representatives and monitor its progress closely.

No estimates of requiring the DARE programme to be implemented nationwide have been made. While we encourage inter-agency drug education initiatives, it is for individual schools to decide which approach best suits their needs and circumstances. DARE is one of a number of possible programmes.