HC Deb 27 January 1972 vol 829 cc1587-9
1. Mr. Pardoe

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of the survey into drug-taking carried out for his Department by Market Advertising and Products Study Limited; and if he will publish the report.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Mr. Richard Sharples)

Market Advertising and Product Studies Ltd. carried out under contract part of a survey which the Home Office commissioned from the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. The total cost of the survey was £26,767.

As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Hackney, Central (Mr. Clinton Davis) on 20th January.—[Vol. 829, c. 214.]

Mr. Pardoe

I am grateful to the Minister for that answer, but it does not mean that the report is to be published. Does he not regard that as rather a lot of money to spend on something that presumably will only be bedside reading for the Home Secretary? Can he confirm that the report bears out many of the recommendations of the Wootton Report, which was scandalously rejected by his predecessor, and in particular that it shows that cannabis smoking is far more widespread than was popularly appreciated and that there is no link between cannabis and the hard drugs? Does he realise that the police are placed in the impossible position of having to enforce a law that the public do not accept?

Mr. Sharples

No, Sir. I should not like to draw the firm conclusions that the hon. Gentleman does from the draft, which requires a considerable amount of further evaluation. The survey, which was commissioned in 1967, consists of a large amount of information that still needs to be evaluated.

Mr. Fowler

While I reject all that the hon. Member for Cornwall, North (Mr. Pardoe) said about cannabis, may I ask whether my hon. Friend has noticed the disturbing reports that there is an increasing use of Chinese heroin in this country? Does not he agree that, if those reports are true, the position is extremely serious as it implies a professionally-organised trade in the drug? Will he, therefore, ask for an immediate report from the Metropolitan Police on the matter?

Mr. Sharples

Yes, Sir. Chinese heroin is a danger of which the Metropolitan Police are well aware. We are in close touch with them about this.

Mr. Wellbeloved

Will the Minister bear in mind that the House will expect the Government to show the same courage as their predecessors in refusing to legalise the taking of cannabis resin?

Mr. Sharples

Yes, Sir. There is no question of any change of policy.

Sir G. Nabarro

Does my hon. Friend realise that the overwhelming majority of rational and reasonable opinion in this country, including the unanimous opinion of the medical profession, is sternly opposed to legalising Indian hemp?

Mr. Pardoe

The hon. Gentleman should see what is published in the report.

Mr. Sharples

I think that I would agree with my hon. Friend.

Mr. John Fraser

Will the Minister confirm that in due course the report will be published, after the evaluation he has spoken about has been made?

Mr. Sharples

First, I should like to congratulate the hon. Gentleman on his first appearance on the Front Bench. I should not like to give the firm assurance for which the hon. Gentleman asks. It is a draft report and needs a considerable amount of further evaluation. When it is presented to Ministers, we shall be able to consider whether or not it should be published.