§ Lord Stoddart of Swindonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 22 April (WA 61), how DrugScope originated in 2000; whether DrugScope has received public funding from the outset; and, if so, what is the total sum allocated to them to date. [HL2643]
§ Lord WarnerFurther to my Written Answer on 22 April, DrugScope was established in 2000 following a merger between the Standing Conference on Drug Abuse and the Institute for the Study of Drug Dependency.
From 2000, DrugScope has received £4,002,689 in funding from government departments (2000–01— 2003–04).
33WA
§ Lord Stoddart of Swindonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 22 April (WA 61), whether DrugScope has any connection with the pharmaceutical industry. [HL2644]
§ Lord WarnerFurther to my Written Answer on 22 April, the Government are not aware of any connection DrugScope has with the pharmaceutical industry.
Information concerning the structure of DrugScope can be found on the DrugScope website: www.drugscope.org.uk
§ Lord Stoddart of Swindonasked Her Majesty's Government:
34WAFurther to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 22 April (WA 61), whether the aims of DrugScope are identical to those of the Government on drug policy; and what influence DrugScope has on government policy either directly or indirectly, for example through parliamentary channels. [HL2645]
§ Lord WarnerFurther to my Written Answer on 22 April, DrugScope is a voluntary sector organisation. DrugScope lists the aims and objectives of the organisation on its website atwww.drugscope.org.uk
As a stakeholder in the drugs strategy, DrugScope works with the Government to help to set performance measures by which the success of the strategy is assessed. DrugScope is also entirely free to lobby government like any other non-governmental organisation, on any topic should it wish to do so.