§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what resources his Department has given to Interpol's drug squad in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [1549]
§ Mr. MichaelAlthough a significant proportion of its work is in facilitating international drugs inquiries, Interpol does not have a drugs squad.
The Home Office does, however, contribute to the cost of running and staffing the Europol Drugs Unit (EDU), the European Union centre for the exchange and development of criminal intelligence on drug trafficking and other forms of serious trans-national crime.
The Home Offices's contribution to these costs has been:
£000 1993–94 68 1994–95 479 1995–96 924 1996–97 803 Some additional costs were incurred by the Home Office as a result of staff time spent on representational, liaison and other duties associated with the work of the Unit.