§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the percentage increase between 31 December 1972 and 31 December 1982 in the total number of people notified to his Department as receiving narcotic drugs from doctors in treatment of their addiction;
(2) what was the percentage increase between 31 December 1972 and 31 December 1982 in the number of people under 21 years notified to his Department as receiving narcotic drugs from doctors in treatment of their addiction.
§ Mr. MellorThe provisional total number of narcotic drug addicts known to the Home Office at 31 December 1982 was given in Home Office statistical bulletin, issue 2/83, published on 22 February 1983. It is estimated that the number of addicts known to the Home Office nearly trebled between 31 December 1972 and 31 December 1982. Information on the ages of narcotic drug addicts known to the Home Office at 31 December for the years 1972 to 1981 is contained in Home Office statistical bulletin, issue 13/82, published on 29 June 1982. Corresponding information for 1982 will be published later this year.