| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Heroin and Cocaine
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the proportion of (a) heroin and (b) cocaine seized in the last 12 months for which figures are available, with a degree of purity of (i) less than 20 per cent., (ii) 20 to 30 per cent., (iii) 30 to 40 per cent., (iv) 40 to 50 per cent., (v) 50 to 60 per cent. and (vi) 60 per cent. and above; and what quantity was seized in each band. [79898]
Mr. George Howarth:
Figures for the purity of heroin and cocaine submitted for analysis to the Forensic Science Service in 1997, the last year for which data are available, are given in the tables. The figures have been broken down by type of enforcement agency since the amounts seized in each purity band are only readily available for Customs. Further information can be provided only at disproportionate cost. It should be noted that only a small proportion of drugs seized are submitted for forensic analysis.
21 Apr 1999 : Column: 579
| Police | Customs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage purity | Number of seizures | Percentage of FSS total | Quantity seized (grams) | Number of seizures | Percentage of FSS total | Quantity seized (grams) |
| Less than 20 | 165 | 14 | -- | 13 | 16 | 161,798 |
| 20-29 | 250 | 21 | -- | 16 | 20 | 40,799 |
| 30-39 | 272 | 23 | -- | 13 | 16 | 111,978 |
| 40-49 | 277 | 23 | -- | 11 | 14 | 437,077 |
| 50-59 | 185 | 15 | -- | 17 | 21 | 84,742 |
| 60 and over | 57 | 5 | -- | 11 | 14 | 261,723 |
| Total submitted to FSS | 1,206 | 100 | -- | 81 | 100 | 1,098,117 |
| UK total | 12,311 | 488,700 | 163 | 1,747,200 | ||
Sources:
Forensic Science Service; and Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate (UK totals)
Sources:
Forensic Science Service; and Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate (UK totals)
21 Apr 1999 : Column: 581
21 Apr 1999 : Column: 581
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the proportion of amphetamines seized in the last 12 months for which figures are available, with a degree of purity of (a) less than 5 per cent., (b) 5 to 10 per cent., (c) 10 to 20 per cent., (d) 20 to 30 per cent., (e) 30 to 40 per cent., (f) 40 to 50 per cent., (g) 50 to 60 per cent., (h) 60 to 70 per cent. and (i) 70 per cent. and above; and what quantity was seized in each band. [79901]
21 Apr 1999 : Column: 582
Mr. George Howarth:
Figures for the purity of amphetamines submitted for analysis to the Forensic Science Service in 1997, the last year for which data are available, are given in the Table. The figures have been broken down by type of enforcement agency since the amounts sized in each purity band are readily available only for Customs. Further information can be provided only at disproportionate cost. It should be noted that only a small proportion of drugs seized are submitted for forensic analysis.
21 Apr 1999 : Column: 581
| Police | Customs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage purity | Number of seizures | Percentage of FSS total | Quantity seized (grams) | Number of seizures | Percentage of FSS total | Quantity seized (grams) |
| Less than 5 | 553 | 36 | -- | 2 | 10 | 4.6 |
| 5-9 | 371 | 24 | -- | 2 | 10 | 0.6 |
| 10-19 | 254 | 17 | -- | 2 | 10 | 678 |
| 20-29 | 159 | 10 | -- | 3 | 14 | 20,517 |
| 30-39 | 85 | 6 | -- | 3 | 14 | 52,964 |
| 40-49 | 51 | 3 | -- | 3 | 14 | 165,145 |
| 50-59 | 28 | 2 | -- | 1 | 5 | 95,500 |
| 60-69 | 34 | 2 | -- | 2 | 10 | 19,856 |
| 70 and over | 4 | less than 1 | -- | 3 | 14 | 14,708 |
| Total submitted to FSS | 1,539 | 100 | -- | 21 | 100 | 369,373 |
| UK total | 19,429 | -- | 2,260,600 | 146 | -- | 935,100 |
Sources:
Forensic Science Service; and Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate (UK totals)
21 Apr 1999 : Column: 581
Animal Procedures Committee
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the medically qualified members of the Animal Procedures Committee over the last 12 years; [80765]
- (2) what plans he has to appoint more medically qualified members to the Animal Procedures Committee. [80764]
Mr. George Howarth: We last made new appointments to the Animal Procedures Committee in December 1998 and have no immediate plans to appoint further new members. Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, members of the Committee can serve for a maximum of two terms, each of up to four years.
The past and present members of the Animal Procedures Committee over the last 12 years who have held a medical qualification are Mr. J. C. Brice,
21 Apr 1999 : Column: 582
Professor B. Bridges, Professor A. D. Dyan, Professor S. M. Jennet, Dr. J. G. G. Ledingham, Professor J. F. Martin, and Professor T. R. E. Pilkington.
Mr. Menzies Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many staff by grade are employed as professional statisticians in his Department; how many of these staff have been accepted as fast stream by the Civil Service Selection Board; and how many have been granted chartered statistician status by the Royal Statistical Society; [81205]
Mr. Straw:
Statistical work is undertaken by a range of specialisms such as Research Officers, Scientific Officers and Economists. The following numbers of staff
21 Apr 1999 : Column: 583
are currently employed by the Home Office after having been recruited as fast stream professional statisticians by the Civil Service Selection Board.
Information on the numbers granted chartered statistician status by the Royal Statistical Society is not available.
The numbers who left on early retirement were:
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors underlay the length of time between the meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 12 March and his report to the House. [81240]
Kate Hoey:
The report was made to the House at the earliest practicable opportunity.
Mr. Coaker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the provisions of Part I of the Criminal Justice Act 1993 will come into force. [81939]
Mr. Straw:
Part I of the Criminal Justice Act 1993 extends the jurisdiction of the courts in England and Wales over offences of fraud. A Commencement Order was made on 19 April 1999 to bring the provisions of Part I into force on 1 June 1999. Copies of the Commencement Order have been placed in the Library. Similarly jurisdiction to that conferred in Part I already exists in the common law in Scotland, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is making similar provision for Northern Ireland.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will (a) provide for all candidates in local elections free post for election addresses, (b) have the same polling times for local elections as for parliamentary elections and (c) review the guidance given to the media so that the names of candidates in local elections, who are members of local councils, can be given when they are making important statements on behalf of their local authorities. [81130]
Mr. George Howarth:
On (a), the Government have no plans to do so at this time. On (b), the Working Party on Electoral Procedures, which I chair, recommended in its interim report of July 1998 that provision should be made in legislation to enable the Home Secretary to approve pilot schemes to explore alternative electoral procedures. Such schemes might include increasing the hours of polling at local elections in line with those at parliamentary elections.
21 Apr 1999 : Column: 584
On (c), the Government are currently considering, in consultation with the broadcasters and political parties, the provisions in section 93 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 which govern participation in broadcasts by candidates at local and parliamentary elections.
(2) how many staff who have worked as professional statisticians in his Department have left on early retirement in each of the past 10 years. [81185]
Senior Civil Service: 3
Grade 6: 3
Grade 7: 16
Assistant Statistician: 7.
In addition, five Statistical Officers are employed in the Executive Officer grade.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |