BUTANE GAS

Early day motion 913, tabled 5 March 1998 by Andrew Love (Labour/Co-operative). Signed by 35 members.

That this House notes that volatile substance abuse kills on average 68 young people under 20 years of age each year and that between 1989 and 1995 660 young people died as a consequence of solvent or volatile substance abuse; notes that it is currently legal to sell butane lighter fuel to under 16s unless it can be proved that the retailer knew that the product would be used for the purposes of abuse, and that this is very difficult to prove; also notes that over 50 per cent. of deaths from substance abuse are from the use of butane gas; further notes that the Government could introduce a ban on the sale of butane lighter fuel to under 16s using existing powers; and calls upon the Government to take steps to introduce such a ban at the earliest opportunity.

Signatures by party: Labour 30, Labour/Co-operative 2, Liberal Democrat 2, Plaid Cymru 1.