§ 63. Mr. FrenchTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policies on solvent abuse.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services has the lead in co-ordinating Government policies on solvent misuse, which are directed primarily towards education and prevention. This Department's main responsibility in this area is for the application of the criminal law through the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act 1985, which makes it an offence for a person to supply or offer a substance to someone under the age of 18 if he knows or has reasonable cause to believe that it is likely to be inhaled for the purpose of causing intoxication.