Gathering evidence
Next week the Commons takes a walk - in fact, two walks - on the wild side.
On Monday, they're at Heathrow Airport, where they will be observing attempts to intercept smuggled cocaine, as part of their inquiry into the drug.
Then on Wednesday, they'll make a late night foray into London's clubland. There, they will observe the effects of cocaine on the home front, the efforts made by health services and advice groups and the approach taken by the police.
Last week Committee member and two Commons staff launched a preliminary reconaissance into the late night revelry in Maidstone, in Kent, and came back impressed by devices that can detect traces of cocaine on the hands of users (they're packed off for immediate drug counselling) and by the way health and substance abuse charities are on hand, and ambulances are standing by.
All this will supplement the evidence they'll be taking from the Justice Minister Maria Eagle, assorted police bodies, the , and the .
I'm Mark D'Arcy and I'll be writing about what goes on in the chambers and committee rooms at Westminster.
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