§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those projects his Department supports which highlight the dangers of drug abuse to children and young people. [137338]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe Home Office does not fund such projects which, at local level, are the responsibility of Drug Action Teams. The Drugs Prevention Advisory Service of the Home Office, however, does support local initiatives and the work of Drug Action Teams.
The Prison Service drug strategy, which includes counselling and information leaflets as well as detoxification, drug testing and treatment, applies equally to young offenders and adults.
At a national level, the United Kingdom Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator Unit (UKADCU) has responsibility for the 10-year strategy of joint action to tackle the problem of drug misuse. One of the aims of the strategy is to ensure that young people have access to all the information and support they need in order to resist drug misuse and thus to achieve their full potential in society. The Department of Health, which is the lead department in the area, is contributing to this objective through a wide range of projects and initiatives that are listed in the United Kingdom Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator's Annual Report 1999/2000, copies of which are available in the Library.
The Young Justice Board, which is a non-departmental public body, currently funds 32 projects for young people with a drugs and alcohol focus.