HC Deb 28 July 1983 vol 46 cc529-30W
Mr. Wilson

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what have been the quantities of illegal drugs seized by Customs and Excise in Scotland, England and Wales and Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; what were

(a) Scotland
Cannabis Heroin Amphetamine Opium
Herbal Resin Kg. Liquid Kg. Kg. Powder Kg. Tablets No Kg.
1978 0.346 2.200 0.016 0.168
(£346) (£2,640) (£160) (£60,000)
1979 10.472 1.154 — 0.202 0.007
(£13,090) (£2,308) — (£70,000) (£105)
1980 4807.416 2.335 0.003 20
(£6,009,270) (£4,670) (£18) (£10)
1981 2859.285 0.853 0.257 150 0.007
(£3,574,106) (£1,706) (£1,542) (£75) (£35)
1982 0.538 9.447 0.002 0.125 0.021
(£672) (£18,894) (£12) (£18,750) (£367)

(b) England and Wales
Cannabis Heroin Cocaine Morphine LSD Amphetamine Opium
Herbal kg Resin kg Liquid kg kg kg Powder kg Tablets kgNo. Tablets No. Powder kg Tablets No. kg Tablets No.
3001.603 3178.648 57.560 58.525 14.762 2.462 38.385 129 0.091 17,076 9.919
1978 (£3,001,603) (£3,814,377) (£575,600) (£12,870,275) (£1,361,344) (£123,100) (£191,925) (£258) (£2,275) (£8,538) (£39,676)
6378.207 5225.851 40.579 40.136 21.553 2.384 1,915 2004 doses 0.131 95 60.340
1979 (£7,972,758) (£10,451,702) (£243,474) (£10,656,075) (£3,488,950) (£178,800) (£7,660) (£5,496) (£1,965) (£47) (£301,700)
3660
13274.783 7403.700 122.571 38.124 35.686 6.185 16,080 672 doses 0265 298 30.240
1980 (£16,593,478) (£14,807,400) (£735,426) (£5,273,179) (£6,052,326) (£402,025) (£64,320) (£8,664) 49 (£3,180) (£149) (£151,200)
13719.668 7526.239 73.211 87.160 13.597 5.903 10,000 964 doses 8.249 991 9.913 72
1981 (£17,149,585) (£15,052,478) (£439,266) (£19,729,235) (£2,272,861) (£442,725) (£40,000) (£2,026) 1146 (£164,980) (£495) (£49,565) (36)
12529.787 3769.557 28.349 182.982 12.032 2.195 76 14,469 doses 2.225 485 16.223
1982 (£15,662,233) (£7,539,114) (£170,094) (£31,145,987) (£2,272,861) (£164,625) (£304) (£31,230) (£38,937) (£242) (£81,115)

(c) Northern Ireland
Cannabis
Herbal Kg. Resin Kg.
1978 1.291
(£1,291)
1979 13.987 0.003
(£17,483) (£6)
1980 0.105
(£131)
1981 8.996
(£17,992)
1982 0.007 0.036
(£9) (£72)

Mr. Wilson

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied with the adequacy of legislation dealing with illegal importers and distributors of heroin and other hard drugs; what sentences are available to, and imposed on average by, the courts; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hayhoe

Yes. On indictment for offences relating to the importation and distribution of heroin and other hard

the illicit market values of the drugs at the time of seizure; and what efforts are being made to deploy resources to curb illegal imports.

Mr. Hayhoe

The quantities of illegal drugs seized by Customs and Excise in Scotland, England and Wales and Northern Ireland in the years 1978 to 1982, together with their estimated street values at the time of seizure are shown in the following tables(a) to (c). Although there has been an overall reduction in the total Customs and Excise staff, the number of specialist investigators dealing with drugs offences has been increased.

drugs courts can impose fines of unlimited amounts or custodial sentences of up to 14 years or both. In addition, they can order the forfeiture of goods and money used in connection with the offence.

The average custodial sentence imposed by the courts over the period 1 April 1981 — 31 March 1983 for offences relating to the importation of heroin and other hard drugs was four and a half years. It is not possible separately to show an average for those offences where importation was for the purpose of distribution.

Further information on sentences for drugs offences is available from table 7 of "Statistics of the Misuse of Drugs in the United Kingdom 1982"—Home Office Statistical Bulletin No. 13/83—a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

The Government are determined to fight this evil trade and will take whatever further measures they deem necessary to deter those who deal in it.