asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from pharmacists in respect of that section of the Misuse of Drugs Act making it compulsory for controlled drugs to be kept in regulation security cabinets.

Representations have been made by the National Pharmaceutical Union and by some retail pharmacists as individuals that the Misuse of Drugs (Safe Custody) Regulations 1973 which require retail pharmacists and others to install special cabinets for the storage of controlled drugs have given rise to an increase in thefts of these drugs. We are not convinced that this is so, but we are keeping a close watch on the situation.