§ Mr. StringerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on co-ordinating initiatives on drugs in schools. [83651]
389W
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe Department is committed to delivering the education strands of the Government's 10 year UK anti-drugs strategy, and has issued guidance to schools and the youth service on the effective delivery of drug education. In particular, it offers teachers and headteachers advice on some key areas in the delivery of drug education, encouraging them to take note of best practice and develop their own detailed programmes and policies of drug education which take account of their own pupils' needs and of local circumstances. A copy of the guidance, entitled "Protecting Young People; Good practice in drug education in schools and the youth service" is in the Library.
The DfEE is making support for drug education available to local education authorities, to assist primary and secondary schools and the youth service to deliver effective drug education. Support is available, through the Standards Fund programme, for the next three years, starting in 1999–2000. £7.5 million is available each year, following the Comprehensive Spending Review.