HC Deb 25 May 1988 vol 134 c169W
Mr. French

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prosecutions have been brought under the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act in the most recent years for which figures are available;

(2) how many convictions have been recorded under the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act in the most recent years for which figures are available.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The information available to me, which may be incomplete, shows no prosecutions under the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act 1985 in 1985 and six prosecutions in 1986, two of which resulted in convictions.

Mr. French

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to seek to increase the sentences available to the courts under the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. John Patten

No. We consider the existing maximum penalties—six months' imprisonment or a fine of £2,000, or both—to be adequate.