Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Andrew Rosindell (Conservative). It was answered on Tuesday, 13 December 2005 on behalf of the Scotland Office.

Illegal Drugs

Question: The Minister will be aware of reports that, in Scotland, a line of cocaine is cheaper than cappuccino. There has been a 12 per cent. increase in drug-related deaths in Scotland. When will the Government take action to end this epidemic by securing our ports and airports and ending an appalling trade that ends in the deaths of young people?

Answer: I have seen in my own constituency the terrible damage that drug consumption does. It ruins individual lives and wrecks families and communities. That is why it is very important to get all the necessary measures in place to deal with it. Of course, such issues are substantially devolved to the Scottish Parliament. I pay tribute to the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency, which has done a magnificent job since its inception, and to the measures that have been put in place through the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Since that was enacted, more than £5.5 million of assets have been seized from suspected drug dealers. That is hitting drug dealers where it hurts them most—in their pockets. A clearer signal might have been sent from this House if the Conservative party had supported that Act.

Secondary information