§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many directions and temporary directions have been made under section 13 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 since 1975.
§ Mr. MellorUnder the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, directions may be made against medical practitioners under the provisions of section 13(1) (which deals with prescribing certain controlled drugs to addicts when unlicensed and failure to notify cases of addiction) and section 13(2) (which deals with irresponsible prescribing).
The number of directions under section 13 made from 1975 to date is 12.
Temporary directions are made under the provisions of section 15 of the Act and subsequently have to be confirmed by reference to a tribunal.
The number of temporary directions made from 1975 to date is five of which three have been confirmed by tribunals and are included in the number quoted above.