HC Deb 18 June 1992 vol 209 cc647-8W
27. Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the total levels of funds sequestrated from convicted drug pushers in the last five years.

Mr. Jack

The latest figures, which arc in respect of confiscation orders made between 1987 and 1990, are given in table 7.25 of Criminal Statistics England and Wales 1990, a copy of which is in the Library. These show that over £27 million was ordered to be confiscated in those years. The current estimate by the national criminal intelligence service of the cumulative total of confiscation orders made since the Drug Trafficking Offences Act came into force in January 1987. up to the end of 1991, is around £35 million.

Dame Jill Knight

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have taken place in 1991 in connection with(a) unlawful possession, (b) possession with intent to supply unlawfully, (c) unlawful supply and (d) unlawful import of the drug Ecstasy (MDMA).

Mr. Jack

Figures for 1991 are not yet available. The figures for 1990 were as follows:

Ecstasy (MDMA)
United Kingdom 1990 Number of prosecutions
Unlawful possession 269
Possession with intent to supply unlawfully 87
Unlawful supply 40
Unlawful import 14

Dame Jill Knight

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will increase the penalties for the selling of the drug Ecstasy (MDMA).

Mr. Jack

MDMA is categorised as a class A drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the maximum penalty for supplying or offering to supply is life imprisonment. Consequently, I have no plans to change this penalty.

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