Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to reduce demand for class A drugs.

The Government is taking a range of action to reduce the demand for illegal drugs, including Class A drugs.

As set out in the 2017 Drug Strategy, our prevention approach combines uni-versal action for all young people with targeted action for groups at particular risk, including young people with a range of vulnerabilities, offenders and homeless people.

Our universal approach focuses on supporting evidence-based programmes which have a positive impact on young people, giving them the confidence and resilience to resist drug misuse. This includes investing in the Alcohol and Drugs Education and Prevention Information Service which provides practical advice and tools to schools and educators, and developing the 'Rise Above' digital hub. The Government is also introducing compulsory health education in all schools from September 2020, which will include a focus on the risks associated with drug misuse.

Alongside this, on 8 February the Home Secretary announced the appoint-ment of Professor Dame Carol Black to lead a major independent review of drugs, which will look at a wide range of issues including the drivers behind recent trends in Class A drug misuse.