§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) if he will estimate the current average age of first use of class A drugs; and if he will make a statement; [87436]
(2) what estimate he made of the number of 11 to 16-year-olds who use class A drugs; and how many reported so doing in the latest year for which figures are available. [87438]
§ Dr. Jack CunninghamThere are no reliable figures at this time which relate to illegal drug use specifically for Class A drugs in this age group. We are commissioning new research to establish robust baselines this year.
§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of people under 25 years reported using (i) heroin, (ii) cocaine and (iii) any illegal drug in the last(a) month and (b) year for which figures are available. [87437]
§ Dr. Jack CunninghamThere are no reliable figures at this time which relate to illegal drug use specifically among the under 25 age group. We are commissioning new research to establish more robust baselines this year.
The 1996 British Crime Survey (England and Wales) percentage figures for 16 to 19-year-olds and 20 to 24-year-olds who indicated they had taken these drugs are as shown.
Heroin Cocaine Any Drug Last Year 16–19 under 0.5 1 31 20–24 under 0.5 2 27 Last Month 16–19 0 under 0.5 19 20–24 under 0.5 under 0.5 18