HC Deb 28 March 1979 vol 965 cc260-4W
Dr. Phipps

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in the years 1973 to 1978, how many of those persons who received a sentence of immediate imprisonment, borstal training or detention centre for unlawful possession of cannabis received such a sentence from courts of summary jurisdiction; and how many from Crown court and other high courts.

Dr. Summerskill,

pursuant to her reply [Official Report, 16 March 1979; Vol.

964, c. 347] gave the following information:

PERSONS SENTENCED TO IMMEDIATE IMPRISONMENT, BORSTAL TRAINING OR DETENTION CENTRE FOR UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CANNABIS AS THE PRINCIPAL DRUGS OFFENCE, BY TYPE OF COURT PASSING SENTENCE
UNITED KINGDOM
Number of persons
Year Total Magistrates' courts or other courts of summary jurisdiction The Crown court or other high courts
1973 578 273 305
1974 441 197 244
1975 369 166 203
1976 329 159 170
1977 400 171 229
Information for 1978 is not yet available.

Dr. Phipps

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were convicted under section 8(a), section 8(b), section 8(c) and section 8(d) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 in the years 1973 to 1978; how many of the convictions under sections 8(a), 8(b) and 8(d) of that Act in the years 1973 to 1978 were concerned with cannabis; and what penalties were imposed for those convictions under sections 8(a), 8(b) and 8(d) where cannabis was concerned in the years 1973 to 1978.

Dr. Summerskill,

pursuant to her reply [Official Report, 16 March 1979; Vol. 964, c. 347] gave the following information:

The available information relates to all persons convicted in the United Kingdom under section 8 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971—figures for 1973 and 1974 include persons found guilty of similar offences under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1965—and is given in the following tables. Information for 1978 is not yet available.

TABLE 1
PERSONS FOUND GUILTY OF PERMITTING PREMISES TO BE USED FOR UNLAWFUL PURPOSES WHERE ANY CONTROLLED DRUG WAS INVOLVED
United Kingdom
Year Number of persons
1973 504
1974 380
1975 314
1976 360
1977 305

TABLE 2
PERSONS FOUND GUILTY OF PERMITTING PREMISES TO BE USED FOR UNLAWFUL PURPOSES WHERE CANNABIS WAS INVOLVED BY SENTENCE OR ORDER
United Kingdom
Number of persons
Year Total found guilty Absolute discharge Conditional discharge Probation Fine Detention centre Borstal training Suspended sentence Immediate imprisonment Otherwise dealt with
1973 501 2 45 39 280 3 10 63 49 10
1974 375 1 30 23 223 1 7 38 48 4
1975 308 2 24 15 187 2 1 35 36 6
1976 345 3 35 12 208 3 2 37 37 8
1977 297 1 22 15 173 2 1 41 35 7