To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the steps being taken by the Government to strengthen the capability of the police to combat drug trafficking.

Police resources for drugs enforcement have been substantially increased in recent years. All police forces now have drugs squads employing in total more than 850 police officers. Seventeen dedicated drugs wings have recently been added to regional crime squads with 221 additional police officers to man them. The national drugs intelligence unit has been strengthened and further expansion is planned for this financial year. The Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986 provides the police with vital new investigative powers which are now being used to good effect.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to combat drug trafficking.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave today to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire, West (Mr. McLoughlin) and to the reply I gave to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Sackville) on 17 March 1988 at column 656.