Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the prevalence and effect of the sale of so-called legal highs (a) online and (b) in shops.

The Government monitors the prevalence of use of particular new psychoactive substances through the Crime Survey for England and Wales. The latest results of the crime
survey can be found here:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/crime-stats/crime-statistics/period-ending-decembe
r-2013/stb-crime-stats-dec-2013.html

New questions have been included in the 2014/15 Crime Survey, to capture the use of a wider range of new psychoactive substances than was previously the case.

The Home Office is currently undertaking a six month review led by an expert panel to look at how the UK's legislative, educational and health response to new psychoactive substances can be enhanced. It is anticipated that the panel will report their recommendations to Home Office Ministers before summer recess.