§ Mr. HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the police greater powers to deal with glue sniffing and solvent abuse.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act 1985 makes it an offence for retailers to sell substances to a person under the age of 18 if they have reason to believe that the young person intends to use them for the purpose of intoxication. It is punishable on conviction with up to six months' imprisonment and/or a fine up to £5,000. In addition, under section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 it is an offence for a person to use threatening, abusive, insulting or disorderly behaviour, a sanction which can be used against an individual who behaves in such a way while so intoxicated.
The possibility of making volatile substances abuse a criminal offence was considered by the Government in 1983 in consultation with a range of statutory and voluntary agencies. The great majority of those who replied took the view that to criminalise VSA would be counter-productive, deterring misusers from seeking help and possibly burdening young people with a criminal record. There was also a fear that such a course might put young people in greater danger by making their activities more secretive.
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs has recently undertaken a study into VSA, the results of which will be published next year. We do not expect it to recommend any changes in the law.
We currently have no reason to believe that a change in the law would be beneficial and have no plans for such a change.