DRUG CZAR WANTS CABINET TO TAKE BLOOD TESTS

TONY BLAIR'S drug czar has made a daring proposal that cabinet
ministers should be subjected to random drug tests.

Keith Hellawell wants to see testing for narcotic substances become
more widely used in the workplace, including Whitehall departments.
Even Tony Blair might be asked to take a blood test or give a urine
sample in his capacity as head of the civil service.

The system would be similar to the one which required the Duke of
York, as a naval officer, to give a sample last year.

"When we speak about testing in government departments we clearly mean
that to include everyone," said Hellawell last week. "Ministers
responsible for their departments are clearly a part of that department.

"We must be inclusive with these sorts of things. I would be very
happy to be tested. Whenever we introduced anything like this when I
was a chief constable, I was always the first to have it done to me."

Hellawell, Blair's most highly paid special adviser, believes that
testing - mostly for hard drugs such as cocaine - should be used more
widely on a voluntary basis to cut "substance misuse", but insists
that the top people should not be excluded if the policy is to win
support among junior staff.

His proposal for testing will be outlined in his annual report next
month as part of a wider strategy in the workplace. This would include
teaching people how to spot drug abuse among colleagues, explaining
what help was available and educating workers about drug use.

MPs last week appeared less than keen on the plan. Although almost
half the members of the Conservative shadow cabinet recently admitted
that they had experimented with cannabis, government ministers were
less forthcoming about testing. Kate Hoey, the sports minister who has
pledged to support random testing to stamp out drugs in sport, refused
to comment.

An aide to Robin Cook, the foreign secretary, said: "He's not here to
have a bit of fun. Interfering with the course of state with this
request is not going to go down well."

David Blunkett, the education secretary, declined to say whether he
thought it was a good idea and Michael Meacher, environment secretary,
said it sounded like a matter for the Home Office.

Hellawell, who will also announce big successes in the seizure of
drugs by customs and police, wants to talk to representatives of
employers and unions about introducing drug testing.

Asked whether this would include the House of Commons and lead to the
potential testing of all MPs, he said: "To be honest, I'm not sure if
it qualifies as a workplace."