Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what information they hold on methods available to test the potency and safety of prescription drugs taken illegally by young people; and whether they consider such testing should be made available at large gatherings of young people to help prevent drug related fatalities.

Prescription-only medicines are, by their very nature, potent and should only be prescribed by a doctor or appropriate healthcare professional.

While technologies are available that test the potency and composition of illegally supplied drugs, no illegal drug-taking can be assumed to be safe and there is no safe way to take them.

The possession of any amount of a controlled drug is a criminal offence and the supply of a controlled drug is an even more serious offence. While operational decisions are a matter for Chief Constables, the Government and the public expect the police to enforce the law.