§ Lord Shepherdasked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress they have made since 2 May in the fight against drugs.
§ The Lord Privy Seal (The Lord Richard)My right honourable friend the President of the Council has been working with a wide range of ministerial colleagues to ensure a collective and effective response to a major social problem. Specific initiatives under way across government include funding 79 local anti-drugs projects under the £2 million drugs Challenge Fund in England, and related developments in Scotland and Wales; publication of an independent evaluation of Drug Action Teams, which points the way forward for local action against drugs; reversing potential plans for reductions in frontline Customs staff; reinforcing, in the context of the Single Regeneration Budget and elsewhere, the links between tackling drugs and regeneration; planning for the Government's legislative commitment to a drug testing and treatment order; and a cross-departmental review40WA to assess the resources available for action against drugs.
In addition, the Government are honouring its manifesto commitment to appoint an anti-drugs supremo to co-ordinate our battle against drugs. The special expert adviser post of UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator, also known as the "Drug Czar", is being advertised tomorrow on a three-year full-time fixed-term contract. We are looking for someone who can bring visible leadership and drive to the fight against drugs, working in partnership with all relevant agencies, communities and individuals. The post-holder will urgently review the overall direction of government action, and submit proposals for a new strategy for England, while maintaining strategic oversight of the work in the rest of the UK and internationally. She or he will work directly to my right honourable friend the President of the Council as Chair of the Cabinet sub-committee on drugs misuse, and have access to the Prime Minister. We plan to make an appointment in the autumn, following an open selection process which ensures that the best possible candidates make themselves available for a vitally important job.