§ Mr. Tim RathboneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, what review is being made of the harmful health effects of khat; and what plans are being made for banning it in the United Kingdom. [311]
§ Mr. BowisThe Department of Health continues to monitor the misuse of khat. Khat is not subject to control under the international United Nation drug treaties and we have no plans at present to schedule it under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The key criterion in the 1971 Act is whether the misuse of a substance has or is capable of having harmful effects sufficient to constitute a social problem.
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs considered the misuse of khat in 1988 against this criterion and reached the view that bringing it within the 1971 Act's controls would not be appropriate.
We are keeping the matter under review.