HC Deb 02 December 1997 vol 302 cc129-30W
39. Mr. Clifton-Brown

To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement on the recent appointment of a drugs tsar. [17131]

Mrs. Ann Taylor

Keith Hellawell will take up his post early in the New Year. His immediate priorities will be to review existing action against drug misuse across the board and to submit proposals to Ministers for a new strategy as quickly as possible, aimed at tackling drug problems through effective enforcement, treatment and education.

40. Mrs. Ballard

To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement on the current programme of work being undertaken by her Inter-Departmental Committee on Drugs. [17132]

Mrs. Ann Taylor

It is not normal practice to give details of the work of Cabinet Committees, but the Committee will in due course be considering plans for a new anti-drugs strategy, on the advice of the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator.

Mr. Loughton

To ask the President of the Council what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the budget proposed for the office of Drugs Tsar in relation to the purposes intended; and if she will make a statement about how that money will be spent. [18218]

Mrs. Ann Taylor

The UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator and his Deputy are special advisers to the Government. Accordingly they have no direct responsibility over any budget. The issue of resources for the Co-ordinator's work will be examined further as the Government consider plans for the next phase of the anti-drugs strategy.