Amphetamines

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.

Purity of amphetamines submitted for analysis to the Forensic Science Service by police and Customs, for specific bands, 1997
	Police					Customs
Percent purity	Number of seizures	% of FSS total	Quantity seized (grams)	Number of seizures			% of FSS total	Quantity seized (grams)
< 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 +	4	<1	--	3			14	14,708
Total 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)

Hansard 21 Apr 1999 : Column: 581