HC Deb 30 March 1994 vol 240 cc846-7W
Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the quantities and estimated value of drugs seized by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and the police for the last three years for which figures are available; and what estimate he made for the quantity and value of drugs illegally used for those years.

Mr. Maclean

The information requested with regard to the quantity of controlled drugs seized by Her Majesty's Customs and the police respectively is contained in tables S1.2 to 1.7 of the supplementary tables to the Home Office Statistical Bulletins "Statistics of drugs seizures and offenders dealt with, United Kingdom" (1990–92), copies of which are in the Library.

In addition, Her Majesty's Customs informed us that the following quantities of controlled drugs were seized by them during 1993:

Amounts in kilogrammes
Heroin 561
Cocaine 748
Amphetamines 1,096
Cannabis (all forms) 53,137

Data for 1993 for police forces will be published later in the year. The combined estimated value of police and Customs drugs seizures is not availble. Since drug misuse is by its nature a clandestine activity, there is no information on the estimated quantity and value of drugs actually used.

Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Moss Side, Manchester in respect of the control of illegal drugs; and what new initiatives will emerge as a result of his visit to Moss Side, Manchester.

Mr. Howard

I have written to the hon. Member today.