Minister of National Security, Derrick Smith, is now in the United Kingdom where he will attend the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association's (CPA) conference.

The conference, which has as its theme, 'Tackling Drugs, Changing Communities - Challenges for Parliamentarians', starts next Monday and ends on Friday.

According to the CPA, a high-profile platform of speakers will highlight the vital topics of drug trafficking, reducing supply, treatment, rehabilitation, intervention and education at the conference.

questions to debate

The questions - What measures are being taken? Are they effective in reducing supply and demand? What are the responsibilities and challenges for parliamentarians in tackling drugs? - will be debated and addressed during the conference

Smith will also meet with several United Kingdom ministers and heads of agencies in law enforcement and national security.

Among those with whom he will meet are Meg Munn, parliamentary under-secretary of state in the foreign and commonwealth office, who has responsibility for the Caribbean; Tony McNulty, home minister of state for security, counterterrorism, crime and policing; Shahid Malik, minister for international development; and Sir Ian Blair, commissioner of police, Metropolitan Police Service, New Scotland Yard.

Smith will also participate in a roundtable discussion with members of the Jamaican diaspora at the Jamaican High Commission.

He will return to Jamaica on February 9.