Drugs (Hansard, 18 March 2002)

§ Mr. John Taylor
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has commissioned in the last five years on the role of cannabis as a gateway drug; what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed reclassification of cannabis; what recent representations he has received on resources and manpower directed to the detection, arrest and charging of drug dealers; and what plans he has to seek to amend the sentencing powers relating to convicted drug dealers. [40852]

§ Mr. Bob Ainsworth
On 23 October last year, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary asked the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to review the scientific literature on cannabis, including the so-called "gateway effect". The Government have commissioned no separate research of their own.
In assessing the impact of the reclassification of cannabis, the Home Secretary has said that he intends to consider the independent evaluation of the Lambeth cannabis policing pilot and take account of the findings and recommendations of the current Home Affairs Select Committee Inquiry, which has taken a range of evidence on the issues.
A new sentencing option for the courts in respect of convicted drug traffickers, Travel Restriction Orders, will come into force on 1 April 2002. Travel Restriction Orders will give the courts the powers in some circumstances to prevent the overseas travel of a convicted drug trafficker following his or her release from prison.

Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1985 and 2001 for supplying anabolic steroids in each of the last 10 years. [41355]

§ Mr. Bob Ainsworth
The available statistics, held on the Home Office Court Proceedings database, show that there was one prosecution for supplying or offering to supply anabolic steroids in England and Wales in each of the years 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000 and three in 1997.
The anabolic steroids were not controlled until September 1996.
Statistics for 2001 will be available in the autumn.