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International Drugs Strategy

9. Angela Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on progress in tackling the international drugs trade. [153309]

Marjorie Mowlam: As part of my recent visits to Jamaica, Iran, the USA and Colombia, I have held meetings with Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General, Condi Rice, the US National Security Adviser, President Pastrana of Colombia and others, to help strengthen our working partnerships against the destructive international drugs trade and share information and ideas for future action.

People's Panel

11. Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what agricultural issues have been referred to the People's Panel for its views. [153311]

Mr. Stringer: No research has been conducted through the People's Panel on agricultural issues, though several food-related questions have been examined.

Better Regulation Taskforce

12. Mr. Bercow: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the work of the better regulation taskforce. [153313]

Mr. Stringer: The independent Better Regulation Task Force produced eight valuable reports last year, and is now studying the economic regulators, the impact of housing benefit on lone parents, regulations affecting small shopkeepers and issues around risk.

Class A Drug Use (Young People)

13. Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what analysis she has made of changes in the level of use of (a) heroin and (b) cocaine by young people since 1997. [153314]

Mr. Ian McCartney: Figures from the British Crime Survey show that the use of heroin remained steady between 1996 and 1998 with fewer than 0.5 per cent. of 16 to 24-year-olds using it in the last year. However, for cocaine there was an increase from 1 per cent. in 1996 to 3 per cent. in 1998.

For the 11-15 age group heroin use has also remained steady between 1998 and 1999 with fewer than 0.5 per cent. of young people using it in the last year.

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Cocaine use also remained steady between 1998 and 1999 with 1 per cent. of 11 to 15-year-olds using it in the last year.

We have set challenging targets to halve the numbers of young people using illegal drugs by 2008 and have recently announced an extra £152 million package from April 2001 to March 2004 for spending on education, prevention and treatment services for young people.

There is concern about young people's involvement with drugs, crack in particular. The Southwark DAT have commissioned further work, borough wide, to explore young people's drug use and their involvement in drug dealing in more depth to inform the future development of services.

Rural Affairs

14. Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the impact of the ministerial group on rural affairs. [153315]

Marjorie Mowlam: The Ministerial Group on Rural Affairs helps ensure a joined-up approach to rural issues. Although details of Cabinet Committee business are not disclosed, a good example of that approach in action is the Rural White Paper, published on 28 November.

19. Miss McIntosh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what action she has taken to co-ordinate Government policy on rural affairs since the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. [153320]

Marjorie Mowlam: I have been abroad on business during the outbreak of the disease.

My right hon. Friend the Minister for Agriculture has been in the lead during this outbreak. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has kept a close eye on developments and has established a Rural Relief Task Force under my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment.

22. Mr. Borrow: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the impact of the ministerial group on rural affairs. [153325]

Marjorie Mowlam: The ministerial group on rural affairs helps ensure a joined-up approach to rural issues. Although details of Cabinet Committee business are not disclosed, a good example of that approach in action is the Rural White Paper, published on 28 November.

Farming

16. Mr. Jack: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office in what way she will be involved in the reappraisal of the role of British farming. [R] [153317]

Marjorie Mowlam: The Ministerial Group on Rural Affairs co-ordinates the Government's policies affecting rural areas, including those relating to farming.

Cannabis

17. Mrs. Gorman: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans she has to legalise cannabis. [153318]

Marjorie Mowlam: The Government have a clear and consistent policy towards all illicit drugs based on the evidence of the harm they cause.

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Cannabis is a controlled drug for scientific reasons. We are still learning about the health risks, including chronic health effects such as the risk of cancer. The Government will keep the evidence under review.

As far as cannabis use for medicinal purposes is concerned, the UK is leading the world in research into the possible medical benefits of cannabis derivatives.

The Government are supporting a major research project which will be concluded within the next two years. If the current clinical trials into cannabis are successful and lead to the development of an effective cannabis- based medicine which is granted a marketing authorisation by the Medicines Control Agency, the Government have made it clear that they would be willing to amend the misuse of drugs regulations to allow such a medicine to be prescribed by doctors.

Disabled People

18. Mr. Gordon Marsden: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps have been taken to monitor the performance of each Government Department in recruiting and promoting people with disabilities. [153319]

Mr. Stringer: All Departments report to Ministers annually on:



Regulatory Reform Bill

20. Mr. Pike: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what measures of deregulation she plans to introduce in the next 12 months following the passing of regulatory reform legislation. [153322]

Mr. Stringer: On Monday 19 March, I placed a list of proposals that could be enacted under the Regulatory Reform Bill in the House Library.

The Bill received its Second Reading the same day.

Consultation documents issued this week on five measures from that list. These will:






The full list of 51 proposals currently stands as follows:









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