§ Mr. Charles R. Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of people registered as drug addicts for the years 1978, 1979 and 1980.
§ Mr. Whitelaw:The numbers of narcotic drug addicts known to the Home Office are published in Home Office statistical bulletin 15/81, "Statistics of the misuse of drugs in the United Kingdom, 1980". There were 2,402, 2,666 and 2,846 respectively at 31 December 1978, 1979 and 1980.
§ Mr. Charles R. Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the percentage increase in known drug abuse in the Greater Manchester area for the years 1978, 1979 and 1980.
§ Mr. Whitelaw:I shall write to the right hon. Member.
§ Mr. Charles R. Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were found guilty of offences involving controlled drugs in the years 1978, 1979 and 1980.
§ Mr. Whitelaw:The number of persons found guilty of offences involving controlled drugs are published in Home Office statistical bulletin, 15/81, "Statistics of the misuse of drugs in the United Kingdom, 1980". There were 13,394, 14,054 and 16,919 respectively in the years 1978, 1979 and 1980.
§ Mr. Charles R. Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the figures for deaths from drug addiction during the years 1978, 1979 and 1980.
§ Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg:I have been asked to reply.
The numbers of deaths assigned to drug dependence (International Classification of Diseases [ICD] No. 304) in England and Wales were as follows:
A revision of the ICD operated from 1979 and, consequently, the 1979 and 1980 figures are not strictly comparable with 1978. Indications are that they are ten per cent. lower because of the classification change.
1978 106 1979 111 1980 89