To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department regarding the extension of the Drugs Bill to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

I have sought and obtained approval for the extension to Northern Ireland of the following provisions in the Drugs Bill:

The ability for a court to draw adverse inferences from a refusal to consent to an intimate drugs search;

The extension of the power to detain persons suspected of swallowing drugs;

Amendment to the offence of possession with intent to supply controlled drugs so that intent is presumed if the amount of drugs held by the person exceeds a certain threshold;

Creation of aggravating circumstances in which a dealer will face an enhanced sentence—such as dealing near a school or using young persons as couriers; and

Clarifying the law about magic mushrooms by making it a specific offence to possess with intent to supply, to supply, produce or import hallucinogenic mushrooms.

The Bill was introduced in the House on 16 December 2004.