Written question asked by Elfyn Llwyd (Plaid Cymru), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 5 February 1997. It was answered by Tom Sackville (Conservative) on Wednesday, 5 February 1997 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: What current research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the causes and consequences of illicit drug taking. - Inc ref to "Tackling Drugs Together". White paper (Cm 2678).

Answer: Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what current research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the causes and consequences of illicit drug taking; and if he will make a statement. [13854] Mr. Sackville: Research commissioned by the Home Office supports the role of the Department in delivering the strategy set out in the White Paper, "Tackling Drugs Together". It includes projects to improve the information available on the nature and incidence of drug related crime and public attitudes to it, as well as assessments of the general prevalence of drug misuse. Four projects are also in progress aimed at developing police strategies for tackling drug-related crime problems. Independent evaluation projects have been commissioned in support of the Home Office drug prevention initiative's programme of work on effective drugs prevention action at community level. Research has also been commissioned on the effects of the Prison Service mandatory drug testing programme on patterns of drug misuse in prisons. Recently evaluated projects include drug prevalence findings from the 1994 British crime survey, lifestyles of crack and heroin addicts in Manchester, public attitudes to drug-related crime and the impact of methadone programmes on crime rates on Merseyside.

Secondary information