§ Mr. GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consult the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs on a proposal to reschedule flunitrazepam as a class B drug. [29524]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe class (A, B or C) under which a controlled drug is listed under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 determines the maximum penalty for offences (essentially unlawful productions, supply or possession) involving that drug. The broad principle governing the classification of a drug is its harmfulness. The greater it is the higher the classification. The benzodiazepines, of which flunitrazepam is one, are used as hypnotic and anxiolytic medicines and are all in class C.
It is the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1985 which determine the degree of regulation over a controlled drug and, following a decision by the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs, we plan to lay before Parliament shortly amendments which will, subject to Parliamentary approval, impose tighter controls on flunitrazepam with effect from 1 May 1998 by moving it from Schedule 4 to Schedule 3 of the Regulations. The change was agreed by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. As a result of the re-scheduling, it will become an offence to possess the drug without lawful authority; imports and exports will become controlled; and safe custody requirements will apply. We have no plans to consult the Council further at this stage.