HC Deb 24 June 1998 vol 314 c539W
Mrs. Ann Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the powers which a future London Assembly will have to develop a comprehensive drugs misuse strategy for the capital. [47342]

Mr. Raynsford

In April 1998, the President of the Council presented the Government's 10-year strategy for tackling drugs misuse "Tackling drugs to Build a better Britain". The strategy will be overseen and coordinated by Keith Hellawell, the UK Anti-Drugs Coordinator, and coordinated locally by Drug Action Teams. DATs must, through consultation with the other DATs in their region, ensure that their plans have a strategic regional coherence. Where appropriate, they are encouraged to liaise with relevant regional tiers of Government. In London, it is expected that the Mayor and Assembly would work closely with DATs to ensure that factors specific to the capital are reflected in the application of the strategy.