HC Deb 22 March 2004 vol 419 cc617-8W
Bob Spink

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement about(a) the future of drugs advisers and (b) their funding in Essex schools. [162195]

Mr. Stephen Twigg

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. The Department does not hold information centrally on the number of school drug advisers within each local education authority.

Young people will continue to receive advice and support on drug issues from schools, the Connexions Service and a range of local agencies.