Written question asked by Paul Flynn (Labour) on Thursday, 7 May 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 14 May 1998. It was answered by Baroness Taylor of Bolton (Labour) on Thursday, 14 May 1998 on behalf of the President of the Council.

President of the Council

Question: To ask the President of the Council, what estimate she has made of the average age of those in the United Kingdom first using (a) cannabis, (b) ecstasy, (c) heroin and (d) cocaine - Inc fact that information not currently available.

Answer: Mr. Flynn: To ask the President of the Council what estimate she has made of the average age of those in the United Kingdom first using (a) cannabis, (b) ecstacy, (c) heroin and (d) cocaine. [41610] Mrs. Ann Taylor: This information is not currently available. However, one of the performance indicators set out in the new Government drugs strategy, "Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain" `is to delay age of first use of illegal drugs'. During this year we will commission research to determine baseline indicators of current age of first use of illegal drugs. The UK Anti-Drugs Coordinator's first Annual Report and Plan of Action, to be published in March, will then set out the targets towards which we will be working.

Secondary information