§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the President of the Council (1) how many programmes for the education of young people as to the dangers of illegal drugs she has(a) implemented and (b) planned; and which of these were not in existence on 1 May 1997; [26254]
860W(2) Council how much spending she has (a) incurred and (b) planned for on the education of young people as to the dangers of illegal drugs which was not planned for on 1 May 1997. [26304]
§ Mrs. Ann TaylorSince 1 May the Government have supported a range of existing drug education programmes, through, for example, the Department for Education and Employment's Standards Fund; the Department of Health's contract with the Health Education Authority to provide a drugs information campaign; and the Home Office Drug Prevention Initiative. May of these are extensions to or variations of previous programmes. Other work is financed through the £2 million Drugs Challenge Fund which was extended for another year.
One of the Government's manifesto commitments was to task a UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator with reviewing and re-evaluating all aspects of the Government's action against drugs, including drug education for young people. Keith Hellawell took up his position as the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator on 5 January and is now conducting this review, which includes a Comprehensive Spending Review of all resources currently allocated to anti-drugs activity. The Government will publish their new strategy in the Spring. All future anti-drugs activity and expenditure by the Government will then be developed in accordance with this strategy.