§ Mr. BryantTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he gives to coroners' courts on recording deaths as drugs-related. [75331]
§ Hilary BennCoroners were advised about recommended verdicts in drugs-related deaths when these verdicts were first introduced in 1984. They have since been encouraged to report details for the National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths, and have been informed of the action plan to prevent drugs-related deaths in the light of the recent report from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. In order to improve surveillance and monitoring, we will provide new guidance for coroners by March 2003.