§ Mr. Hayhoeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the number of registered drug addicts in the United Kingdom for each year since 1960.
§ Dr, SummerskillThere is no system of registration of drug addicts within the United Kingdom, but an index is kept of those addicts coming to the notice of the Home Office. Before 22nd February 1968, when the Dangerous Drugs (Notification of Addicts) Regulations 1968628W came into force, medical practitioners were not required by law to furnish particulars of addicts to the Chief Medical Officer at the Home Office. Figures for the period 1960–67, are, therefore, not complete and are not comparable with the figures given below. The numbers of addicts known to the Home Office to be receiving narcotic drugs at 31st December of each year from 1968 to 1975 inclusive are as follows:
ADDICTS KNOWN TO THE HOME OFFICE TO BE RECEIVING NARCOTIC DRUGS AS AT 31ST DECEMBER IN EACH YEAR Year No. of Persons 1968 … … … … 1,746 1969 … … … … 1,462 1970 … … … … 1,426 1971 … … … … 1,549 1972 … … … … 1,615 1973 … … … … 1,815 1974 … … … … 1,972 1975 … … … … 1,954