PROHIBITION OF KHAT

Early day motion 433, tabled 28 June 2005 by Paul Flynn (Labour). Signed by 8 members.

That this House supports the Government's warnings on the dangers of khat but is convinced that prohibiting the cultural drug of Somali and Yemeni communities would drive a dangerous wedge between them and the police; believes that prohibition would replace the present transparent legal market with an irresponsible criminal market pushing khat of unknown purity and strength to new users adding greatly to the burden of work of the police, courts and prisons; and agrees with the view of the many Somali and Yemeni elders that replacing khat use with alcohol consumption would increase problems in their communities.

Signatures by party: Labour 6, Conservative 1, Liberal Democrat 1.