To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in how many drug trafficking cases in 1994 evidence was given by alleged or confirmed drug users against their drug dealers; and if he will make a statement; [5400](2) in how many drug trafficking cases in 1994 the evidence given by alleged or confirmed drug users against their drug dealers was deemed vital in conviction; and if he will make a statement. [5401]
There were 8,635 persons convicted in 1994 by the courts in the United Kingdom for drug trafficking offences. The information requested regarding the nature of evidence given in individual drug trafficking cases is not available.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines exist for the police concerning the employment of drug users in attempts to convict drug dealers; and if he will make a statement. [5371]
None that are specifically geared to drug users and drug dealers, but there are guidelines strictly controlling the use of informants more generally. The management and use of informants in specific operations is a matter for the police force concerned.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many drug trafficking cases were tried by the courts in each year since 1991; and if he will make a statement; [5372](2) how many drug trafficking cases were tried and convicted by the courts in each year since 1991; and if he will make a statement. [5373]
The information is given in the table.
| Number of defendants proceeded against for drug trafficking offences by type of court 1991 1994 | ||||
| England and Wales | ||||
| 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | |
| Magistrates' courts | ||||
| Prosecutions | 8,535 | 9,971 | 8,939 | 10,376 |
| Committed for trial at the Crown Court | 5,684 | 6,407 | 5,857 | 6,815 |
| Convictions | 1,770 | 2,000 | 1,674 | 1,817 |
| Crown Court | ||||
| Total for trial | 4,661 | 5,427 | 5,180 | 5,641 |
| Convictions | 4,094 | 4,781 | 4,579 | 4,969 |
| All courts | ||||
| Convictions | 5,864 | 6,781 | 6,253 | 6,786 |