CAMERON PRIORITISES DRUGS PROJECTS

David Cameron will today pledge UKP 100m for a new drug
rehabilitation programme in Scotland, claiming it to be the most
significant step ever taken in Scotland to combat drugs.

Speaking in Aberdeen this morning, the Conservative leader will also
scotch any prospect of his party going into the Scottish
parliamentary election campaign with a pledge to cut income tax.

Annabel Goldie, the leader of the Scottish Tories, has fought
vigorously to prioritise the fight against drugs in Scotland and has
campaigned internally for any money to be spent on that fight rather
than cutting the so-called tartan tax.

While the decision may disappoint traditional Conservatives, who have
argued for a tax-cutting bonanza under a Tory regime, Mr Cameron
fully supported the decision to leave Holyrood's income tax powers
alone. It has promised a council tax cut for pensioners and has yet
to say what it proposes on business rates.

The Conservative leader - and his entire Shadow Cabinet - are in
Scotland today, preparing their Scottish parliamentary election campaign.

Speaking to The Herald in London before he headed north, he said: "I
am going to Aberdeen specifically to visit a drug project and to work
with the Scottish Conservatives who are bravely, sensibly and rightly
saying that they are going to put a UKP 100m into the fight against
drugs and drug rehabilitation rather than offer tax cuts at the
Scottish parliamentary election.

"I think that is absolutely right. It is their decision, and I think
it is a very good decision. I think the agenda of tackling drug abuse
is hugely important. So I am going to go and see the efforts first hand."

Mr Cameron's aides revealed that he had been shocked at the extent of
the drugs problems in Scotland, with 37 new patients seeking
treatment every day.

Aberdeen, where Mr Cameron will make his pledge today, has, like
Scotland's other large cities, a serious drug problem.

Mr Cameron insisted party members should do what they thought was
right rather than pursue a tax-cutting agenda to out-manoeuvre the
other parties, two of which are considering cutting business tax.

While the Scottish elections may have given him a chance to
demonstrate his tax cutting inclinations, he said: "It is a matter
for Scottish Conservatives. We live in a devolved system and you have
to believe in a devolved system head and heart, practice and theory.
It is up to the Scottish Conservatives to come forward with their
policy proposals.

"I think they have made a good call by saying they are going to spend
money on drug rehab rather than tax cuts."

It is also possible that had there been a party clamour for tax cuts,
Mr Cameron and George Osborne, the Shadow Chancellor, would have
vetoed them for fear that they would hand Gordon Brown a stick with
which to beat the Tories.

They desperately want to avoid their opponents presenting them as tax
cutters before responsible guardians of the public services.