Mr. John David Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the level and trends of misuse of drugs in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Needham[pursuant to his reply, 18 July 1986]: The level of drug misuse in Northern Ireland remains low by comparison with the rest of the United Kingdom. The number of persons charged or cautioned for offences relating to controlled drugs in 1985 was 286 compared with 227 in 1984, 182 in 1983 and 218 in 1982. The vast majority of these offences related to cannabis and there is no evidence of a major hard drugs problem.