PRIMARY SCHOOL DRUGS PREVENTION

Early day motion 597, tabled 28 January 2003 by Iris Robinson (DUP). Signed by 21 members.

That this House calls on the Government to take serious cognisance of the value of life education centres in supporting drug prevention education in primary schools as highlighted in the recent OFSTED Report, and its key role in Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education, particularly in view of the growing confusion among children regarding the drug cannabis; notes the worrying uncertainty by children, as shown by a recent survey of teachers by life education centres, in which more children believed that cannabis had been legalised, many believed it was a type of medicine and others believed it even less harmful than cigarette smoking; and further calls for Government action and funding for the maintenance and increased use of life education centres in Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom in order to combat drug use for young people.

Signatures by party: Labour 7, DUP 4, Conservative 3, UUP 3, Liberal Democrat 2, Labour/Co-operative 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.