HC Deb 21 July 1986 vol 102 cc28-9W
Mr. Kirkwood

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what plans he has to counter drug abuse in the Borders region;

(2) what evidence he has of changes in the incidence of drug abuse in the Borders region in the last six years;

(3) what steps he plans to take to increase counselling facilities and anti-drug abuse education in the Borders;

(4) what projects are in operation in the Borders to help registered drug addicts;

(5) how many registered drug addicts reside in the Borders;

(6) how much is currently being spent on the prevention of drug abuse in the Borders region;

(7) what plans he has to increase funding for the Scottish Health Education Council specifically regarding tackling drug abuse in the Borders region.

Mr. John MacKay

The Government's strategy for tackling the problem of drug misuse and the wide range of positive measures which have been taken or put in hand are described in "Tackling Drug Misuse: A Summary of the Government's Strategy", the second edition of which was published in March 1986.

It is difficult to measure the extent of an illegal activity such as drug misuse, but the main indicators available centrally suggest that the incidence of drug misuse in the Borders region continues to be relatively low. Figures for the numbers of addicts formally notified to the Home Office are available only by police force areas.

NHS services for the treatment of drug misusers in the Borders area are provided as part of the general practitioner and hospital and community-based services.

The public information and education campaign mounted by the Scottish Health Education group on behalf of the Scottish Office is a national campaign, and the substantial resources which the Government have made available to launch and develop the campaign are not allocated for use in or in relation to any particular part of the country. The primary responsibility for tackling the problem of drug misuse at local level, including preventive education amd the provision of treatment and rehabilitation services for drug misusers, rests with local authorities and health boards, in consultation as appropriate with voluntary and community organisations.

Mr. Kirkwood

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the number of prosecutions for drug abuse involving cannabis, diamorphine and amphetamines for each police division in the Lothians and Borders police force for the last five years for which figures are available.

Mr. John McKay

Information is available centrally only for the Lothian and Borders police force area as a whole. Figures for the years 1980 to 1984 are given in the table. Corresponding information for 1985 is not yet available.

Persons* proceeded against for offences under drugs legislation or other offences involving controlled drugs in the Lothian and Borders police force area.
Number of persons
Type of drug 1980 1981 1981 1983 1984
Cannabis 85 133 251 216 178
Diamorphine (heroin) 10 42 72 59 77
Amphetamines 6 2 11 13 18

* As the same person may be proceeded against for offences involving more than one drug, rows cannot be added together to produce totals.

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