§ Mr. FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he has taken to ensure that those training to be teachers are fully equipped to present in schools the Government's counter-drugs strategy. [64517]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe Curriculum for teacher training ensures that all teachers must be able to address pupils' personal, moral and social development. This will provide a focus for the full range of personal, social and health education work, including drug education. As certain aspects of drug education are a statutory requirement of National Curriculum science, all primary school teachers and secondary school science teachers are trained in drug education.
We have made increased funding of £7 million available this year through the Department's Standards Fund programme for drug education and prevention work. Eligible expenditure includes direct and associated costs of training teachers in schools. Further support of £7.5 million is to be made available through the Standards Fund for each of the next three years, following the Comprehensive Spending Review.
The DfEE has also recently issued new drug education guidance for teachers and youth workers, on the effective delivery of drug education in schools and youth service settings, and on dealing with drug-related incidents. The guidance encourages schools to take note of best practice and assist them in developing and implementing their own drug education programmes and policies.