§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Lord President of the Council what research his Department has commissioned into the use of drugs by young people; and if he will make a statement. [21595]
§ Mr. NewtonThe Privy Council Office has not commissioned any research into the use of drugs by young people.
Under the Government's tackling drugs together strategy, the Department of Health was given the responsibility of commissioning research into drug misuse among 11 to 35 year-olds. The first survey of over 5,000 people was conducted by the Health Education Authority and BMPvB International in autumn 1995, and the results published in May 1996. A second survey was conducted in autumn 1996, and the results will be made available later this year.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Lord President of the Council what formal assessments have been made of the effectiveness of the different elements of the anti-drugs campaign; and if he will make a statement. [21594]
§ Mr. NewtonThe Government are vigorously implementing complementary drug strategies in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, tailored to the circumstances of each country. The effectiveness of each of these strategies is under regular review, under the auspices of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on the Misuse of Drugs.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Lord President of the Council what discussions his Department has had with the Economic and Social Research Council about applied social research on drug taking; and if he will make a statement. [21596]
§ Mr. NewtonThe central drugs co-ordination unit in the Privy Council Office was offered the opportunity, which it accepted, to comment on the most recent drug-related research grant applications to the Economic and Social Research Council.