§ Mr. Eggarasked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will continue to be responsible for glue sniffing.
§ Mr. BiffenUntil now I have taken lead responsibility for co-ordinating the Government's response to this problem in England and Wales as part of my responsibility for the safety of consumer products. However, glue sniffing is the deliberate misuse of otherwise safe household products and experience has shown that there is no effective way of preventing their misuse without interfering with their normal use.
The only practicable approach to the problem appears to be through alerting and educating all concerned to the dangers, principally to the health of those who misuse it. That is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Social Services and for Wales, who will, with the Prime Minister's approval, take over co-ordinating responsibility in future in England and Wales respectively.
My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Northern Ireland will continue with lead responsibility in Scotland and Northern Ireland. I will retain particular responsibility for questions about the supply of any products which can be misused in this way where they fall within my general responsibility for the safety of goods for the consumer. Other Ministers will be involved as necessary.