§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that existing statutory controls are adequate to deal with the cultivation in the United Kingdom of opium poppies; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe production of opiates from poppies is already controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, having assessed the level of risk from commercial opium poppy cultivation in this country, has advised us that there is no case at present for extending those powers.
We have studied the advisory council's report very carefully, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. We have concluded that poppy cultivation on the present scale seems unlikely to be an additional source of illicit drugs and that the 1971 Act provides an adequate level of control. However, it is important that we continue to watch the situation and I have arranged for the Home Office drugs inspectorate to monitor all such crops in future for any evidence of improper diversion.