HL Deb 16 June 1976 vol 371 cc1366-7WA
The Baroness WOOTTON of ABINGER

asked Her Majesty's Government:

For each year since the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 came into effect,

  1. (a) how many persons have been convicted of offences under the Act involving possessing or supplying the following drugs:
    1. (i) heroin;
    2. (ii) LSD; and
    3. (iii) cannabis; and
  2. (b) how many of those convicted of possession of cannabis have been sentenced to immediate imprisonment.

The MINISTER of STATE, HOME OFFICE (Lord Harris of Greenwich)

The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 came fully into force on 1st July 1973. The following information relates to those years since 1st July 1973 for which full information is available.

  1. (a) Persons convicted of offences of possessing or supplying certain drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
—by type of drug and type of offence

UNITED KINGDOM
Number of Persons
l974 1975
(provisional figures)
Type of Offence Heroin LSD Cannabis Heroin LSD Cannabis
Unlawful supply 61 120 441 55 101 395
Unlawful possession 312 762 8,486 306 715 7,955
Possession with intent to supply unlawfully 18 30 199 22 42 276

Note: since a person may he convicted at the same time of several offences involving one or more drugs, the to al number of persons involved cannot he obtained by addition or the numbers given.

  1. (b) Persons sentenced to immediate imprisonment for offences involving possession of cannabis
—by type of offence

UNITED KINGDOM
Number of Persons
Type of Offence 1974 1975
(provisional figures)
Unlawful possession 540 514
Possession with intent to supply unlawfully 71 106

Note: Since a person may he sentenced at the same time to imprisonment for both these offences, the total number of persons involved cannot he obtained by addition of the numbers given.