HC Deb 09 November 1972 vol 845 cc1173-4
11. Dr. Stuttaford

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions there were for possessing heroin in 1970 and 1971.

Mr. R. Carr

In England and Wales, 153 in 1970; 433 in 1971.

Dr. Stuttaford

These figures are extremely worrying. Do they not show that there is a great deal of Chinese heroin still coming into this country—heroin which is imported from South-East Asia, processed in Hong Kong, and then brought to Britain by members of the Chinese population in Soho? Will not our police forces have an impossible task unless supported by diplomatic action?

Mr. Carr

This is a serious problem. Police forces throughout the country are stepping up their activities in prevention and sorting out drug misuse. It is also important that approval has recently been given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer for a substantial increase in the staff of the Customs central drugs investigation branch. The increase in the number of convictions may mean—and, I hope, to some extent at least, does mean—that the police effort is being more effective, and not entirely that the abuse of drugs is increasing.

Mr. Elystan Morgan

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what are the figures for convictions for possessing or pushing cannabis during the same years, and will he say whether those figures cast any light on the continuing argument of the possibility—to put it no higher—of a causal connection between the taking of cannabis and heroin addiction?

Mr. Carr

The hon. Gentleman seems to be discovering all the cuffs that I have not got on today! In fact, that is another question. If the hon. Gentleman wishes to put down a Question on that point I will answer it.

Mr. Fell

Has my right hon. Friend any idea of the percentage of pushers, as against users, amongst those convicted? Surely the important thing is that the pushers of the drugs should be caught and convicted, rather than the users.

Mr. Carr

I am afraid that I have no specific figures on that point. In any case pushers, as my hon. Friend calls them, are often also users; the two overlap. I was present with my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State at the European Community conference in Rome a few weeks ago, and we are trying—particularly on an international scale, above all else—to deal with the traffic in drugs.

30. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take in the light of the figures released at the General Assembly of Interpol that the British police seized 2½ tons of cannabis worth £1½ million on the black market in the last 12 months, and that there is increased traffic in morphine and heroin, and of the seizure of 5,600 doses of microdot tablets of LSD.

Mr. Lane

The figures reflect the increasing success of Customs and police action against illicit traffic in drugs. I shall do all that I can to ensure that it is maintained.

Mr. Dalyell

Does the success extend to morphine and heroin?

Mr. Lane

Yes, the success extends right across the field. In addition to what my right hon. Friend said, I can assure the hon. Member that we have strengthened our defences more recently by setting up the Central Drugs Intelligence Unit in London. This will also be of great help.