§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what regulations govern the use of pentobarbitone; and what restrictions are placed on its purchase, ownership and use.
§ Mr. John PattenI have been asked to reply.
Pentobarbitone is a barbiturate compound which is used as a sedative and anaesthetic in clinical and veterinary practice. It is used particularly in the killing and putting down of animals. Supply and possession of the drug are subject to restrictions under both the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the Medicines Act 1968. The effect is that it may be purchased for professional use by medical, dental and
476W
Net official development assistance 1985 (£ million) DAC countries Angola Botswana Lesotho Malawi Mozambique Namibia Swaziland Tanzania Zambia Zimbabwe Total Australia — 0.35 0.21 0.35 1.07 0.02 0.25 3.13 1.67 3.18 10.24 Austria 1.06 — — — 2.20 — — 0.32 0.19 0.35 4.12 Belgium 0.10 0.03 0.04 0.02 1.00 0.03 0.07 2.81 1.03 0.41 5.54 Canada 1.37 3.79 3.96 3.32 3.68 -0.89 3.39 23.44 8.42 13.37 63.85 Denmark 0.69 1.70 1.33 3.95 4.67 — -0.01 28.56 4.75 4.60 50.23 Finland 0.16 0.02 0.36 0.02 2.43 1.06 — 12.82 9.11 3.44 29.41 France 1.04 0.26 0.16 2.49 15.65 — 0.54 1.13 0.52 4.07 25.23 Germany 1.91 10.17 6.29 9.15 3.72 1.07 1.34 25.37 14.45 21.06 94.52 Ireland — — 2.27 — — — — 2.14 1.84 0.27 6.52 Italy 12.58 0.01 0.56 0.04 21.57 — 0.23 26.86 1.00 5.76 68.62 Japan — 0.02 0.52 3.76 3.36 — 0.58 21.97 31.82 6.59 68.61 Netherlands 6.21 1.62 0.62 2.01 19.15 0.09 0.33 28.48 12.10 13.68 84.28 New Zealand — 0.01 — 0.01 — — — 0.04 0.01 0.01 0.07 Norway 0.23 8.53 0.59 0.35 10.38 0.20 0.14 35.04 12.87 6.43 80.76 Sweden 14.43 5.65 5.31 — 26.20 — — 37.78 17.65 18.15 125.18 Switzerland 0.65 0.03 0.52 0.03 2.72 — 0.02 4.67 3.40 1.67 13.70 United Kingdom 0.16 4.89 2.35 10.68 7.26 0.60 0.59 17.43 17.59 18.98 80.54 United States of America 5.40 8.49 14.66 4.63 36.26 — 6.17 15.43 27.77 43.20 161.99 DAC total 45.99 45.56 39.76 40.81 167.30 2.19 13.64 287.42 166.19 165.21 974.06 veterinary practitioners and by others against a prescription issued by a practitioner; and any person may lawfully possess the drug for medical, dental or veterinary purposes in accordance with the directions of a practitioner. Under the Misuse of Drugs Act, the unlawful possession of pentobarbitone is punishable, on indictment, by up to five years' imprisonment or a fine—or both.