§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what action he will take further to restrict the sales of substances such as butane which can lead to addiction through abuse; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what action he has taken and intends to take in the future in order to combat lighter fuel sniffing; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if he can provide figures for the number of persons who undertake solvent abuse and lighter fuel sniffing; and what resources he has committed to fighting this.
§ Mr. John PattenMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has the lead in co-ordinating Government policies in this area, which are directed primarily towards education and prevention. It is not possible to estimate the extent of volatile substance misuse with any accuracy as this is essentially a clandestine activity: the numbers are thought to vary greatly over time and place.
My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary's main responsibility so far as the inhalation of lighter fuel is concerned is for the application and enforcement of the criminal law. We supported the passage through Parliament of the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act 1985 which penalises anyone who supplies, or offers to supply, a substance while knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that it is likely to be inhaled by someone under 18 for the purposes of causing intoxication. Figures for the cost of enforcing this law, and of police action in dealing with misusers, are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
In view of the very wide range of everyday substances which can be misused, we believe there is little to be gained from further restricting sales. But we shall continue to encourage the voluntary co-operation of retailers in controlling the supply of volatile substances to young people.