§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what are the criteria which he applies to reschedule drug substances under the terms of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971; how temazepam relates to these criteria; and if he will make a statement; [31395]
(2) what further plans he has to reschedule temazepam; and if he will make a statement. [31383]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonNo rescheduling may occur under the 1971 Act except after consultation with, or on the recommendation of, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. The council is required to have regard to misused drugs which are having, or appear to it to be capable of having, harmful effects sufficient to constitute a social problem. The council has recommended that temazepam should be controlled under schedule 3 of the relevant regulations rather than schedule 4. The Government's careful consideration of this recommendation is continuing.
As my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council announced on 10 May, we are taking steps to impose safe custody requirements on manufacturers and wholesalers, and are engaged in consultations with a view to banning the prescribing by general practitioners under the National Health Service of the soft gelatin gel-filled temazepam capsules.