§ Paul FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost to public funds was per prosecution for cannabis related offences in each of the last five years. [151505]
§ Caroline FlintIt is not possible to provide a breakdown of criminal justice system costs in relation to cannabis prosecutions. However, the average cost per
Persons1 fined and sentenced to immediate custody2 for cannabis related offences England and Wales, 1998 to 2002 1998 1999 2000 Offence Persons fined Persons sentenced to immediate custody Persons fined Persons sentenced to immediate custody Persons fined Persons sentenced to immediate custody Supplying or offering to supply (or being concerned in supplying or offering to supply) cannabis 155 656 116 573 68 405 Possession of cannabis with intent to supply 244 1,284 197 1,112 150 806 Production of or being concerned in the production of cannabis 637 216 499 206 394 156 Possession of cannabis 15,503 410 15,215 451 13,538 361
2001 2002 Offence Persons fined Persons sentenced to immediate custody Persons fined Persons sentenced to immediate custody Supplying or offering to supply (or being concerned in supplying or offering to supply) cannabis 60 265 51 258 Possession of cannabis with intent to supply 100 618 103 547 Production of or being concerned in the production of cannabis 302 126 422 83 Possession of cannabis 12,960 290 14,123 241 1 These data are on the principal offence basis. 1 Includes unsuspended imprisonment, secure training orders, detention in a young offender institution and detention and training orders.
§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on what date the meeting at which the decision was taken that an advertisement campaign to reiterate the illegality of cannabis should be launched was held; and if he will publish the minutes; [153948]
(2) which agencies were asked to bid for the advertisement campaign to reiterate the illegality of cannabis; and what prices they quoted; [153949]
(3) what methods he is using to measure the effectiveness of the advertising campaign to reiterate the illegality of cannabis; [153950]
(4) what criteria he used to decide that an advertising campaign to reiterate the illegality of cannabis was necessary; [153951]
(5) which agency handled the 2004 advertisement campaign to reiterate that cannabis is an illegal drug. [153983]
§ Caroline Flint[holding answer 9 February 2004]: The agency Mother, which is the Home Office's incumbent agency for the drugs education campaign, FRANK, was retained for the reclassification of cannabis campaign aimed at persons under 18. They had 1422W person proceeded against of a prosecution for a notifiable drugs offence is £13,072. This includes all the costs of the proceedings including punishment (prison or probation) but not investigation.
§ Paul FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been(a) fined and (b) given a prison sentence for (i) supplying, (ii) trafficking and (iii) possession of cannabis in each of the last five years. [151507]
§ Paul GogginsThe available information is contained in the table.
Statistics for 2003 will be published in the autumn.
participated in a full competitive pitch through the COI's roster of preferred providers and had been awarded a contract in October 2002.
The joint Home Office/ACPO advertising campaign aimed at adults was commissioned through ACPO and was based on proposals they had developed with their own agency.
Detailed planning for an advertising campaign started in summer 2003, when officials from the Home Office, Department of Health and the Department for Education and Skills held a series of meetings. The proposal to launch a campaign was referred to by my right hon. noble and learned Friend the Baroness Scotland of Asthal, during the debate on the reclassification of cannabis on 12 November 2003,Official Report, House of Lords, column 1469. Specific prices quoted by agencies cannot be released as this would breach commercial in confidence rules.
The effectiveness of the advertising campaign reconfirming the illegality of cannabis is being measured through a survey with a representative sample of 14 to 17-year-olds. It will report on young people's attitudes as well as their understanding of the changes in the law. An industry-standard approach has been used, using 1423W quantitative surveys with a representative sample before the campaign starts, followed by a second wave for comparison once the advertising has finished.
The Government are determined that nobody should be left in any doubt about the central message in regard to the reclassification of cannabis. The drug remains illegal and is harmful. The advertising is just one strand of a wide range of communications activity which includes leaflets, posters, postcards and education packs for schools and professionals.