HL Deb 29 June 1995 vol 565 cc918-9

6.45 p.m.

Baroness Blatch rose to move, That the draft order laid before the House on 25th May be approved [22nd Report from the Joint Committee].

The noble Baroness said: My Lords, the purpose of the order is to remove from control under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 the substance propylhexedrine. Until 1991 propylhexedrine was among the substances listed in Schedule IV to the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances. As a party to that convention, the United Kingdom was required to impose such controls as were necessary to fulfil the provisions of the convention. This was achieved by listing the drug in Class C of Schedule 2 to the 1971 Act and applying the controls of Schedule 4 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1985.

However, in 1991 the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs decided that propylhexedrine could be removed from international control as there had been very little evidence of misuse worldwide for a number of years. Accordingly, it is no longer necessary for the United Kingdom to control it unless, of course, we have any particular domestic reason for doing so. We have no such reason. Propylhexedrine is used in some countries as a nasal decongestant and to reduce appetite in cases of obesity but it has not been manufactured or marketed as a licensed medicine in this country since 1987 and there is no evidence of its misuse here.

Before submitting an order of this kind to Parliament for approval, the Misuse of Drugs Act requires that the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, the expert body which advises the Government on drugs issues, is consulted. It has considered the question and is content for the substance to be removed from domestic control.

If the order is approved, we shall then bring forward an amendment which will also delete propylhexedrine from the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1985. The changes would take effect from 1st September. I beg to move.

Moved, That the draft order laid before the House on 25th May be approved [22nd Report from the Joint Committee].—(Baroness Blotch.)

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

My Lords, since the order is brought forward with the approval of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs and the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, we are satisfied with it.

On Question, Motion agreed to.