To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the proportion of (a) heroin and (b) cocaine seized in the last 12 months for which figures are available, with a degree of purity of (a) less than 20 per cent., (b) 20 to 30 per cent., (c) 30 to 40 per cent., (d) 40 to 50 per cent., (e) 50 to 60 per cent. and (f) 60 per cent. and above: and what quantity was seized in each band. [36480]
In 1997 where the Forensic Science Service was asked to test for purity of police seizures of heroin and cocaine, the purities were as follows:
| Heroin purity | Percentage of cases | Cocaine purity | Percentage of cases |
| Less than 5 | Less than 5 and | ||
| and 5–10 | 2 | 5–10 | 2 |
| 10–20 | 12 | 10–20 | 4 |
| 20–30 | 21 | 20–30 | 10 |
| 30–40 | 23 | 30–40 | 12 |
| 40–50 | 23 | 40–50 | 13 |
| 50–60 | 15 | 50–60 | 13 |
| More than 60 | 5 | More than 60 | 43 |
Note:
Figures are rounded
The quantity seized in each band is not available. The seemingly high percentage of cases involving purity of cocaine of more than 60 per cent. is probably skewed by the inclusion of some crack cases. The overall average purity for heroin was around 35 per cent. and for cocaine around 52 per cent.
Where the Forensic Science Service was asked to test for purity of Customs seizures, the average purity on importation in 1997 of heroin was around 34 per cent. and cocaine around 70 per cent. More detailed information on purity on importation is not available.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the proportion of amphetamines seized in the last 12 months for which figures are available, with a degree of purity of (a) less than 5 per cent., (b) 5 to 10 per cent., (c) 10 to 20 per cent., (d) 20 to 30 per cent., (e) 30 to 40 per cent., (f) 40 to 50 per cent., (g) 50 to 60 per cent., (h) 60 to 70 per cent. and (i) 70 per cent. and above; and what quantity was seized in each band. [36479]
In 1997, where the Forensic Science Service was asked to test for purity of police seizures of amphetamine, the purity was as follows:
| Purity | Percentage of cases |
| Less than 5 | 36 |
| 5–10 | 24 |
| 10–20 | 17 |
| 20–30 | 10 |
| 30–40 | 6 |
| 40–50 | 3 |
| 50–60 | 2 |
| 60–70 | 2 |
| More than 70 | 1 |
Note:
Figures are rounded.
The quantity seized in each band is not available. The overall average purity was around 14 per cent. although the typical (modal) purity was around 5 per cent.
Where the Forensic Science Service was asked to test for purity of Customs seizures, the average purity on importation in 1997 was around 40 per cent. More detailed information on purity on importation is not available.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the average potency per unit seized in the last twelve months of (a) LSD and (b) ecstasy. [36481]
In 1997, the Forensic Science Service was not asked by the police or Her Majesty's Customs and Excise to determine the drug content of any LSD seizures.In 1997, where the Forensic Science Service was asked to test for drug content in police seizures (22 cases), the average content of MDMA tablets was 66 milligrams; the average content for MDEA tablets and tablets containing a mixture of MDMA and MDEA was around 80 milligrams.