HC Deb 13 December 1985 vol 88 cc797-8W
Mr. Hirst

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the Government's response in Scotland to the report of the advisory council on the misuse of drugs on the security of controlled drugs.

Mr. George Younger

The Government very much welcome this report and we are grateful to the council for its thorough review of this important topic.

The Government have had widespread consultations with trade and professional organisations on the report's recommendations. There have been a number of developments since the report was published which have implications for the security of controlled drugs. In particular, since the threat to licit stocks of controlled drugs is not so severe at present as was feared likely several years ago, we have decided that we would not be justified in implementing in full the recommendations relating to the replacement of the existing statutory storage requirements on retail pharmacies and the issue of new enforceable guidelines to hospitals and the transporters of controlled drugs.

We shall however encourage community pharmacists and dispensing doctors to review their security arrangements in consultation with the police and to improve them wherever necessary, having regard to the council's recommendations. The police have power to exempt pharmacies from the present basic statutory arrangements where they have approved alternative security precautions. Many pharmacists are expected to be able to qualify for this exemption on the basis of the improved security procedures which they have already introduced. We wish to encourage full co-operation between the police and pharmacists in the possible use of these exemption procedures to effect better security of controlled drugs.

A range of procedural recommendations will also be commended to community pharmacists to prevent the diversion from their premises of licit supplies of controlled drugs for illegal use.

We shall also keep under review the adequacy of security arrangements in hospitals. In 1984 a circular was issued to health boards requesting security programmes to improve the effectiveness of these procedures. A recent review indicates that the security of drugs in pharmacies in NHS hospitals is currently sound. We shall continue to monitor the situation and additional advice on procedural aspects of drug security will, as appropriate, be issued.

Finally, the Home Office drugs inspectorate will carry out a review of the security arrangements at premises of persons and organisations licensed to possess, supply or manufacture controlled drugs.