§ Mr. Bill O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce legal restrictions on Khat; and if he will make a statement. [138807]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe khat plant is not controlled under the United Nations drug conventions and we have no current plans to bring it under the controls of our own misuse of drugs legislation.
In 1988, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), the independent body which advises the Government on drug misuse matters, concluded that there was insufficient evidence of a social problem arising from the misuse of khat in the United Kingdom to justify bringing the plant under the controls of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. However, the Home Office is currently collating updated information on the extent of its misuse and if this indicates that the situation has changed significantly the ACMD will be asked for fresh advice.