§ LORD SANDFORDasked Her Majesty's Government to state:
(a) How many licences to prescribe to addicts they have issued under the Dangerous Drugs (Supply to Addicts) Regulations 1968; (b) to which treatment centres such licences relate; (c) how many licences have been granted to practitioners not working at hospital treatment centres; and (d) whether any other centres that have been treating addicts up to now will be obliged to cease doing so when the licensing regulations come into force.
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD STONHAM)Up to the present time licences under the Dangerous Drugs (Supply to Addicts) Regulations 1968 to prescribe heroin and cocaine to addicts have been issued to 545 medical practitioners, of whom 529 are on the staff of 219 National Health Service hospitals in Great Britain where treatment facilities for heroin addicts are provided. Licences have been granted to 7 medical 735WA practitioners in the Prison Service in England and to 9 medical practitioners on the staffs of 3 non-National Health Service establishments where treatment facilities are provided.
The Government are not aware that any centre which has been treating addicts has been obliged altogether to cease doing so because of the Regulations. There 736WA would appear to be no reason why this should be necessary, as the Regulations affect only the supply of heroin and cocaine to addicts and a range of other drugs and clinical procedures are used in the treatment of addiction.
House adjourned at twenty-three minutes before eight o'clock.