DANGEROUS DRUGS BILL [Lords]. (Hansard, 14 March 1932)

§ Mr. O. STANLEY
I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."
The reason for the introduction of this Bill is to enable His Majesty's Government to ratify a Convention which took place at Geneva this summer. The House will know that this country has always been to the front in attempting to regulate the traffic in dangerous drugs. During last summer a largely-attended conference was held at Geneva to discuss the question. The scheme for regulation which was proposed by His Majesty's Government was, as a matter of fact, not accepted by the conference, and we were bound to point out that, in our view, the scheme which finally formed the basis of the Convention had a certain defect and would present difficulties in practice. Even so, we acknowledged that the scheme was an advance on the present position, and we therefore became one of the signatories to the Convention. To enable us to ratify that Convention, it is necessary to make certain minor Amendments of the existing law. To a large extent, we shall be enabled to put the Convention 110 into force under the existing Dangerous Drugs Act, but there are two main particulars in which it may he necessary to make an alteration. The first is in regard to certain derivatives of opium which are not habit-forming drugs in themselves, but are capable of easily being converted into such. In accordance with the Convention it is necessary to take power to deal with them.
The two drugs which are mainly concerned are commonly known as codeine and dionin, although they will probably be more familiar to hon. Members under their more scientific name as methyl-morphine and ethylmorphine. The House will realise that we include, with these drugs, their respective salts. They are not in themselves drugs of addiction, although they are capable of being converted into such drugs. They are drugs of a useful character which are more and more generally being used as substitutes for more dangerous drugs in medical preparations. Although we find it necessary under the Convention to have some control over them, we do not want to establish a control of such rigidity as would interfere with their proper purpose and use. We intend, therefore, under Sub-section (3) of Clause 2 to extend Part III of the Dangerous Drugs Act to them and control the process of manufacture of those two drugs, with this alteration, that we are enabled, in the Order which brings this extension into force, to make certain modifications, and to make, therefore, in the case of these two drugs, a less rigid control than is usual under Part III. It will be found that, when we bring this control into force, it will affect neither the retail trade nor the use of these drugs by medical practitioners. I feel sure that it will not interfere in any way with legitimate retail trade in these drugs.
The other alteration that has to be made is in regard to certain new derivatives of opium or the coca leaf, which may be invented or found in years to come. We have had the difficulty up to now that we have not been able to deal with new inventions. The scheme as proposed under Clause 2, Sub-sections (1) and (2) of this Bill is as follows: First of all, you should start from a complete ban on the trade or manufacture of any such new derivatives. The next step is that this new-found drug 111 should be submitted to the League of Nations for their report as to whether it is a drug of addiction or a drug which is capable of being converted into one. If it is found that this new drug has no medical or scientific value, then the ban is not lifted. If it is found that the drug is of medical or scientific value, then the ban is lifted. If the League of Nations find that it is a drug of addiction, then we bring into operation Part III of the principal Act. If they find that it is not a drug of addiction but capable of being converted into one, then we are entitled to use the same procedure as I have already detailed to the House in the case of the other two drugs.
Finally, as to the date at which this Bill is to come into force. It is to be brought into operation by Order-in-Council, the necessity for that being that this Convention will not come into force until it is ratified by 25 of the signatories including at least four of the main manufacturing countries, and it is necessary therefore, to retain a discretion as to when it shall come into force.

§ Mr. RHYS DAVIES
I rise to utter one or two sentences. As far as we on this side of the House are concerned we give our blessing to the Bill. We think it a very necessary Measure. Whenever the Government take an international line on any subject, we are inclined to support them.

§ Sir WILFRID SUGDEN
I know very well that this Bill is wanted and that we have only four minutes in which to discuss it, but I want to ask a question in respect of its application. Has it the consent of the Veterinary Surgeons, of the British Medical Association, or of the Society of Pharmacists of Great Britain and Ireland? These are the three bodies that are mainly and most intensely interested in what is being done in regard to drugs. In respect of the application of it, have these three great national bodies been consulted and have they given their agreement to its provisions?

§ Mr. C. WILLIAMS
I only want to say one word, and that is to warn the Minister that, although I accept this Bill as a whole quite readily, when we get to the Committee stage I may wish to omit 112 one or two of the words in paragraph (g) of Clause 1.

§ Mr. STANLEY
The Convention which this Bill is intended to ratify was concluded in the summer. It has been laid before Parliament and forms the subject of a White Paper which is well known to the bodies interested, and, in view of the fact that we have received no representations against it, I think we can conclude that the Bill is agreed to.