HC Deb 24 July 1997 vol 298 c677W
Mr. Hanson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will undertake consultations with interested parties with regard to the prohibition of the sale and supply of cigarette lighter fuel products to persons under the age of 16 years. [10222]

Mr. George Howarth

Under the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act 1985 it is an offence to supply a substance to a person under 18 knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the substance is, or its fumes are, likely to be inhaled for the purpose of causing intoxication. We agree with the view of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs that amendment of this legislation would be unlikely to increase the level of protection of children, although work with the industry continues in order to reduce the extent to which lighter fuel refills can be abused.