Graham Jones: To ask the Attorney-General how many people have been prosecuted for domestic cannabis farming in each of the last 10 years.

The Solicitor-General (Oliver Heald): The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not hold central data recording the number of people prosecuted for offences which involve domestic cannabis farming. Such data could not be reasonably obtained locally or nationally other than by reviewing individual case files which would incur a disproportionate cost.

Although there is no discrete offence of cannabis farming, charges can be brought under section 6(2) Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (cultivation of cannabis). CPS records do provide a count of the number of these offences (not defendants), in respect of which a prosecution commenced, in the magistrates courts. In each of the last eight years the number of offences was as follows:

                  Offences

2004-5        903

2005-6        1,078

2006-7        1,164

2007-8         1,451

2008-9         1,448

2009-2010    1,737

2010-11        2,305

2011-12        949