§ 4. Mr. Hilary BennTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the safety and security of residents in tower blocks. [156023]
§ Mr. Mike O'Brien[pursuant to the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Regent's Park and Kensington, North (Ms Buck) in response to a supplementary question to that asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, Central on 9 April 2001, Official Report, column 693]My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary recently met my hon. Friend and local people involved in tackling the problems of drug abuse. I understood that the Home Secretary visited the Regent's Park and Kensington, North constituency as I informed the House but I have now been told that the meeting was at the House of Commons. I do, however, continue to assure my hon. Friend that tackling crack and associated drugs is high on the Government's agenda. We cannot tolerate the behaviour experienced by the residents in her constituency, and we are committed to addressing it.