§ Mr. Alexander Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the number of convictions in the Western Region for possession of drugs in the period 1965 to 1971 and the number of registered drug addicts in the area covered by the Western Regional Hospital Board in the same period.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellThe number of persons convicted or found guilty of offences against drugs legislation—includ-40W ing unlawful possession—in the Western Regional Hospital Board area in each of the years from 1965 to 1970 is shown in the table below. Separate figures for unlawful possession are not available.
The number of drug addicts in the same area known to be receiving narcotic drugs on prescription or from other sources during each of the years from 1968 to 1970 is also shown in the table. Figures for other years are not available.
WESTERN REGIONAL HOSPITAL BOARD AREA Number of persons convicted of offences against drugs legislation* Number of narcotic drug addicts 1965 3 — 1966 9 — 1967 25 — 1968 35 33 1969 59 33 1970 155 36 1971 not yet available not yet available *Drugs (Prevention of Misuse) Act 1964 and Dangerous Drugs Acts 1965 and 1967.