§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many school drugs advisers are in post in each local education authority; and what estimate he has made of how many will be in post after April; [151430]
(2) what funding has been made available for employment of school drugs advisers (a) to date and (b) after April 2004. [151296]
§ Mr. Stephen TwiggThe Department does not collect information centrally on the number of school drug advisers within each local education authority.
Funding for school drug advisers (£7.5 million per year) has been made available through the Standards Fund since 2001. From April 2004 it will be up to local education authorities and schools to support drug education, including school drug adviser posts, out of the total resources available to them.
Young people will continue to receive advice and support on drug issues from schools, the Connexions Service and a range of local agencies.