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Donald Dewar launches attack on drugs
27/04/1998
Scottish Secretary Donald Dewar MP, today announced plans for a new £200,000 information strategy in Scotland to provide a clearer picture of drug misuse across the country.
Mr Dewar said:
"The Scottish Office is today issuing guidance to agencies on the implementation of a new Scottish Drug Misuse Information Strategy. The strategy will play a key role in improving the national and local response to drug misuse by opening up access to reliable information, strengthening decision making and measuring progress.
"The implementation plan for the Information Strategy covers significant themes touched upon in today's drugs White Paper - in particular in relation to performance measurement and evidence based decision making. Funding of £200,000 per annum will be provided to run the Information Strategy."
Mr Dewar earlier joined Cabinet colleagues in launching the Government's White Paper on tackling Drugs teaming up with Keith Hellawell, the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator, to announce a drugs strategy based on extensive research and consideration by the Co-ordinator and his Deputy, Mike Trace.
The UK strategy has four key elements:
- to help young people resist drug misuse so that they can achieve their full potential in society
- to protect communities from drug related anti social and criminal behaviour
- to enable people with drug problems to overcome them and live healthy , crime free lives
- to stifle availability of illegal drugs on our streets.
Although some of this activity is UK wide and international, the focus is on England. Scottish Ministers will be looking at the Strategy as they continue to shape their own distinctive approach in Scotland.
Mr Dewar said:
"The White Paper reflects the UK and international dimension to the drugs problem. Drugs do not respect national boundaries. Nor do drug dealers. We need a united approach not just in Scotland but across the UK.
"It is a substantial document which we can all learn from. While the detail in the strategy is primarily for England, I expect The Scottish Office, with advice from the Scottish Advisory Committee on Drug Misuse, to look for aspects of the new UK strategy which we should pick up and build upon here in Scotland.
"We have our own distinctive approach to tackling drug misuse in Scotland. We have shaped that further since we took office building on the Drugs Task Force agenda. We have introduced a number of initiatives aimed at broadening the approach, improving the management of drug misuse, and strengthening prevention efforts. Our public health Green Paper is canvassing views on drugs and health and will be a critical part of our Autumn Health White Paper."
BACKGROUND
1. Keith Hellawell, former Chief Constable of West Yorkshire, was appointed by the Prime Minister as the UK's first Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator in October 1997.
2. The publication of the White Paper - Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain: The Government's Ten Year Strategy for Tackling Drug Misuse - was announced in the House of Commons today by the President of the Council, Mrs Anne Taylor, and followed by launch of the strategy at the Trocadero Centre, Piccadilly.
3. The White Paper consists of a Ministerial Statement signed by 10 Cabinet Ministers - including Mr Dewar, The Deputy Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer - the report of the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator Keith Hellawell, and the Government's anti drugs Strategy.
4. Scottish Office Guidance, the Planning and Provision of Drug Misuse Services was issued in November 1997.
5. Detailed guidance on the arrangements for the implementation of the Scottish Drug Misuse Information Strategy is being issued today to all the agencies in Scotland with an interest in drug misuse.
6. Over £50 million is being spent in Scotland each year by all services on drug misuse.
News Release: 0849/98
April 27, 1998