§ Mr. RosindellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of how much crime is committed by people under the influence of khat. [154856]
§ Caroline FlintKhat is not a controlled drug and no routine statistics are collected about its use to enable a quantitative exploration of the extent of link with crime. However, the Home Office is in the process of commissioning a small-scale study, to report in the first half of next year, which will look at khat use in specific communities and explore qualitatively whether there may be a link with use of controlled drugs or offending behaviour.
§ Mr. RosindellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ban khat. [154857]
§ Caroline FlintThe Government have no plans at present to ban khat or to control it under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, but the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, which advises on these matters. keeps its legal status under review.
The Government are also considering ways to address the problems of khat misuse as part of a wider diversity initiative to ensure that the national drug strategy meets the needs of all our communities. This will include the development of appropriate drug prevention materials and information to raise awareness about khat misuse.