§ 9. Mr. Ronald Bellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the publication of information and instruction on trafficking in drugs, such as the "Truckers' Bible", a copy of which has been made available to him, he will make an assessment on the effect of such publications on the illegal drug traffic; and if he will issue advice designed to counter these publications.
§ Mr. LaneI deplore the publication of this pamphlet and I understand that it is being considered by the Director of Public Prosecutions. I doubt whether the assessment suggested by my hon. and learned Friend is practicable, but we shall continue to watch the situation very closely. The Government are determined to do everything in their power to prevent drug trafficking and have strengthened the resources available for that purpose.
§ Mr. BellWill my hon. Friend bear in mind that the effect of this demoralising, coarse and essentially evil document is to excuse and glamorise the trafficker in drugs and thereby to enmesh the more impressionable young people? Will he bear in mind that this document is published by a body that is a registered charity, and will he do something—if it lies within his power—to get this body unfrocked as a charity?
§ Mr. LaneSome of the pamphlet certainly amounts to encouragement, but I understand that the Release organisation itself is not a charity, although it gets some finance from the Release Trust, which is a registered charity. I understand that the Charity Commissioners have recently asked for the latest accounts of the Release Trust.