§ 65. Dame Jill Knightasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to end the manufacture and sale of amyl nitrite; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir David Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the extent of drug abuse on amyl nitrite, popularly known as "poppers"; and when he intends to bring amyl nitrite within the scope of existing anti-drug regulations.
§ Mr. MellorThe alkyl nitrite group of chemicals, which includes amyl nitrite, was considered in 1984 by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs which concluded that there were insufficient grounds to justify recommending their control under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. We have no plans at present to introduce controls over the sale and manufacture of these substances but continue to monitor the situation in consultation with the Secretaries of State for Social Services and for Trade and Industry. To this end we have recently asked chief constables to include information about "poppers" in their annual reports on drug misuse.