The Cabinet Office has hit back at "improper'' comments about civil servants made by the leader of the fight against drugs in Bermuda, Mr. Alastair Macdonald.

Acting Secretary to the Cabinet Mr. Leo Mills said he felt the comments made by the chairman of the Interim Steering Committee of the National Drug Authority were "unfortunate.'' Mr. Macdonald complained last week to a forum at Northlands School that little progress had been made to implement the Life Skills Programme for youngsters.

He said that only one school had implemented the programme in five years and said he would put the civil service on notice.

Mr. Macdonald said that the efforts to develop life skills in youngsters faced a road block by the Ministry of Education. And he levelled criticism particularly at the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Dr.

Marion Robinson.

But Mr. Mills said this week that Mr. Macdonald had ignored the fact that, in 1986, at the direction of the Minister, the Life Skills Programme had been introduced into all secondary schools.

He said that Mr. Macdonald's remarks did not accurately reflect the efforts undertaken by staff in the Ministry of Education to introduce the programme into selected primary schools in September, 1992 in response to the Minister's decision.

Mr. Mills added: "Contrary to Mr. Macdonald's assertion that the Life Skills Programme, introduced to Bermuda by the Lions Club, existed in only one school, the programme, in fact, is now established in some 11 schools and three special schools.

"In these circumstances the targetting of the Permanent Secretary was wrong, misguided and inappropriate.

"The Ministry of Education has recognised the need to have a full-time co-ordinator to oversee the Life Skills Programme in the schools.

"The post has only recently been established by the Government and it is anticipated that it will be filled as soon as possible.

"It is regrettable, therefore, that the Permanent Secretary should wrongly be made the scapegoat when she has consistently acted on those matters within her responsibility and control to see to it that the Minister's decisions, with respect to the Life Skills Programme, are effectively implemented.''