§ 33. Mr. SCRYMGEOURasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs 14 whether he is aware that the world output of morphine has increased between 1921 and 1926 from 30 to 60 tons; and whether, in view of the statement of the Italian representative to the League of Nations that the British Government had concealed the real figures of British drug exports, he has any official information to explain the difference between the amount of drugs imported into America and the amount admitted by British exporters?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. A statistical summary recently issued by the League gives the production for 1926 as 40,245 kilos and the production for 1921 as 29,657 kilos (about 40 and 30 tons respectively), but complete statistics are not available. Both the figures in question are incomplete, and the figure for 1921 more so than that for 1926. Any comparison, therefore, between them would be unsafe. Further, the 1926 figure includes large quantities of morphine which were produced solely for transformation into non-dangerous products, such as codein. The actual quantities of morphine manufactured for sale as such were far smaller. So far as Great Britain is concerned the manufacture of morphine has shown a steady decrease during the last five years. I am not aware that the Italian representative on the Advisory Committee charged His Majesty's Government with concealing their drug exports. He called attention to the fact that the amount of raw opium returned by Great Britain as exported to the United States was less than the amount of raw opium returned by the Government of the United States as imported from Great Britain. This discrepancy is being examined by the two Governments, but is probably due in part to the fact that the returns of the two Governments relate to different periods, the British returns, being for the calendar year, the United States returns for the fiscal year from July to July, and in part to the fact that opium sold from Great Britain may not be actually exported from Great Britain but may be conveyed direct from a foreign port to the United States. The British figures are official figures compiled from the export licences issued by the Home Office, and there is no reason to question their accuracy.
§ Mr. SCRYMGEOURIf I submit to the hon. Gentleman an extract from the British Press reporting a definite state Sir. The offer of a site for a new post ment by the Italian representative, I have office and telephone exchange has now no doubt he will have it investigated been accepted; and arrangements are in I refer to the statement attributed to the train for a commencement of the new Italian representative that the British building in the current financial year. Government are concealing the figures.
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI should certainly be very pleased to receive anything which the hon. Member cares to send me.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the figures which he has read out do not include one showing that the total world requirement for medicinal purposes is only 15 tons, and that at least twice as much is being manufactured?
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYIs that the result of prohibition?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWhy should we not take drastic steps to prevent an excessive amount being manufactured and sent out by profit-making firms in this country, over and above what is required?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONIt. is for that reason that we have ratified a Convention setting up a board of control which will give us more control.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWhy not follow the example of the French Government and declare it a Government monopoly and so check the manufacture?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYYes, with dangerous drugs.