§ Mr. John Grantasked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps he considers might help to prevent the practice of glue sniffing among young people; whether he has reason to believe the problem is worsening; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Sally OppenheimI fully share the hon. Member's concern about this dangerous practice but, taking the country as a whole, I have no reason to believe that the problem is worsening. The pattern seems to be one of scattered outbreaks among young people rather than a continuing or widespread habit.
There is no easy solution. The only practical policy in my view is to rely on the activities of drug liaison committees, schoolteachers, doctors, social workers, police and youth organisers to educate young people on the dangers of "sniffing" in those localities where there is evidence that this is taking place.