§ 9. Mr. Langford-Holtasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many known addicts to the drug heroin there are, or are believed to be, in the United Kingdom.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeFifty-two in England and Wales and two in Scotland.
§ Mr. H. HyndCan the Home Secretary say how many of those were doctors?
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeNo.
11. Mrs. Jegerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the evidence of the extent of heroin addiction in the United States of America and in other countries where the drug is already banned, which was submitted to him before he made his decision to ban heroin.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeI will place in the Library a copy of the United Nations Summary of the Reports of Governments relating to Opium and Other Narcotic Drugs for 1953, the latest available.
Mrs. JegerIn view of the figures which have been published of the extent of heroin addiction in the United States, can the Home Secretary tell the House 531 why he imagines that the proposed ban will have any effect on addiction in this country?
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeI am simple enough to believe that, if large numbers of countries think that to ban heroin is a good thing to get rid of this appalling scourge, the contribution made by this country would help in some way towards it. The fact that the figures for the United States are as high as they are does not seem to me to be a reason why we should not join with other countries.
§ Sir F. MesserIs the Home Secretary aware that the published figures and the evidence available are no real indication of the widespread extent of addiction?
§ 20. Sir R. Boothbyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the further protests which he has received from the Council of the British Medical Association, he will now reconsider his decision to prohibit the manufacture of heroin for medicinal purposes.
§ 22. Miss Burtonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the disquiet among informed opinion owing to the Government decision to ban the manufacture, import or export of the drug heroin at the end of this year; and if he will make a statement.
29. Sir I. Clark Hutchisonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that there is no adequate substitute for heroin in the treatment of certain cases; and if he will reconsider the decision to impose a ban on its production.
§ 55. Sir R. Grimstonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue a White Paper on the proposed ban on the manufacture of heroin.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeAs regards the general question, I would refer to the Answer I gave on 1st December to a number of Questions by hon. Members.
As regards the particular Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Westbury (Sir R. Grimston), I am considering, in consultation with my right hon. Friends the Minister of Health and the Secretary of State for Scotland, the publication of a White Paper.
§ Sir R. BoothbyArising out of that answer, in addition to considering the publication of a White Paper, will my right hon. and gallant Friend, together with his right hon. Friends the Minister of Health and the Secretary of State for Scotland, consider the possibility of carrying out a series of clinical tests, if possible under the auspices of the Medical Research Council, before he finally puts into effect the decision which he has taken?
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeI am afraid that I cannot commit myself in regard to the second part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question about carrying out clinical tests, but I will certainly talk to my right hon. Friends about it.
§ Miss BurtonIs the Minister aware that I put this Question down because a man came to me in great distress because his wife had had a very serious operation and was allergic to morphia and heroin was the only drug which gave her relief? Will this man be any easier in his mind as a result of the Government's decision? Can the Minister comment upon that aspect of the matter?
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeI do not think that the hon. Lady will expect me to comment upon that aspect by way of question and answer. This is an extremely difficult matter. As I have said in a Written Reply, most anxious consideration was given to it. There is no unanimity upon this question and, whatever decision was taken, I am bound to say that I never could see any unanimity upon it at all. In view of that fact, I think we have to take this step in order to help the international situation.
§ Sir R. GrimstonWill my right hon. and gallant Friend make it clear, in any statement or White Paper that he issues, that this ban will not prevent the use of existing stocks of heroin? Will there not therefore be an intervening period when tests can be made and medical opinion crystallised? Will my right hon. and gallant Friend give an undertaking that the Government will keep a close watch upon the matter, so that if the fears of a very large proportion of the medical profession prove to be right—and there is no proper alternative—the ban may be rescinded before the stocks of heroin have been exhausted?
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeUnder the Dangerous Drugs Act the manufacture, import and export of dangerous drugs can be carried out only by licence of the Secretary of State. This ban simply means that the manufacture, import and export of heroin will cease, and that is all it means.
Sir I. Clark HutchisonIn giving further consideration to this matter, will my right hon. and gallant Friend take particular note of the views of general practitioners who are in day-to-day touch with patients who may require heroin?
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeThis is more a matter for my right hon. Friend, but I should not like it to be thought that the members of the committee who advise him upon this matter are people who are out of touch with general practice. Of the twenty-nine persons who were on the committee, about nineteen are in fact engaged in daily practice.
§ Sir R. BoothbyI beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise this question on the Adjournment.
§ 39. Mr. John Hallasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what account he took of the experience of other countries where a similar ban operates in deciding to ban the manufacture of heroin.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeAll relevant considerations were taken into account before I decided to impose the ban.
§ Mr. HallWould not my right hon. and gallant Friend agree that, from the evidence which we can obtain, it would seem that the banning of heroin in other countries has led to an increase and not a decrease in addiction? In view of the very little advantage that appears to be gained by the present proposal weighed against the amount of human suffering which might be involved, would he not consider this ban again?
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeI cannot accept the contention that imposing a ban has led to increased addiction in other countries. I have no information to confirm that at all.
§ 41. Mr. W. Wellsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations have been made to him on behalf of the medical profession regarding 534 the proposed ban on the manufacture of heroin.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeRepresentations have been made to me by the British Medical Association, the Medical Women's Federation, and on behalf of the medical staffs of fifteen hospitals or medical schools.
§ Mr. WellsWhat action does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman intend to take on those representations? Does he consider that it is a proper function of the State to interfere with a doctor's freedom to prescribe?
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeI really do not think that we can take this very important matter much further by question and answer. We had better wait until we can consider the whole position. The idea that no consultation has taken place is quite contrary to the facts. The history of this ban did not start in 1954, as the document issued yesterday by the B.M.A. tried to indicate. It started in 1950.