Solvent Misuse (Hansard, 26 July 1984)

§ Mr. John Patten

Extensive consultation with statutory, voluntary, professional and trade organisations in 1983 strongly supported the Government's policy on solvent misuse. They agreed the policy to help parents and the relevant services use existing skills, resources and powers to co-operate more effectively to discourage the practice of solvent misuse through education and persuasion.

The problem remains with us. More people died from solvent misuse last year than the previous year. The Government are taking a wide range of measures to tackle the problem and try to reduce the number of people who misuse solvents.

These measures are: Facilitating agreement by retailers and manufacturers on guidelines for voluntary restraint on retail sales. The guidelines have been distributed widely with a poster. Health Education Council producing publicity leaflets to give advice to parents of children who misuse solvents. A training film/video "Illusions" produced to train professionals has been widely seen. Over 100 copies have been sold and it has been loaned out nearly 1,400 times. Research into the effects of teenager's activities on health and education performance has started and is due to be finished by the end of 1986. Other outline research proposals are being studied. The Health Education Council has published a training manual for professionals on solvent abuse. The National Children's Bureau will promote local and regional seminars as well as collating and disseminating good practice on solvent misuse. A post is funded by the DHSS. A book for professionals is due to be published by Macmillans early in 1985. A circular was issued by the Home Office to chief policy officers on 8 June setting out the various options and facilities open to the police on solvent misuse. The Home Office has consulted the police and representatives of manufacturers and retailers on proposals to create an offence of selling substances to under 16s, knowing or having reasonable grounds for believing that they are likely to be inhaled to achieve intoxication. The reports indicate widespread support for such legislation. The Government will be prepared to support the introduction of a suitable bill in the next parliamentary Session. In June the Department of Education and Science issued a safety in education bulletin which included advice 769W about solvent misuse. Copies of the bulletin have been sent to local education authorities for distribution to schools and colleges.

This range of initiatives across a number of Government Departments shows our determination to tackle solvent misuse. I am certain that the way forward must be through education and persuasion and the steps outlined above show what we are doing to improve local co-operation, training for professional people who come into contact with solvent misuse and to give help to parents. In addition to these measures, which will also be of benefit in Wales, the Department of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, who instituted similar consultations in 1983, has under active consideration arrangements for convening local seminars to spread good practice, and will produce in the Welsh language an edition of the leaflet for parents to which I have already referred.