To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations he has received on the banning of mephedrone in the UK; (320113)

Following receipt of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs advice on 29 March 2010, a draft order to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 to control mephedrone and other cathinone derivatives as class B drugs is currently before Parliament for its approval. With Parliament’s agreement, these drugs will be controlled on 16 April 2010.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received on the classification of mephedrone under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971; and if he will make a statement. (324848)

[holding answer 29 March 2010]: The most recent representation received on the classification of mephedrone is the advice of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), the Government's independent expert body, on 29 March 2010. The ACMD's advice can be accessed at:

http://drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk/drugs-laws/acmd/index.html

On the recommendation of the ACMD that mephedrone and other cathinone derivatives should be brought under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 as Class B drugs, a draft Order to amend the 1971 Act is currently before Parliament for its approval. With Parliament's agreement, these drugs will be controlled on 16 April 2010.