§ 13. Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the powers under which the Metropolitan Police obtain access to patients' records kept by doctors and nurses in cases of suspected misuse of drugs.
§ Mr. R. CarrThe commissioner informs me that it is not the practice of the Metropolitan Police to inspect records relating to the treatment of patients except when the doctor concerned permits them to do so in order to check whether the requirements of the law are being observed.
§ Mr. DavisI thank the right hon. Gentleman for that reply. Is he aware, however, that considerable disquiet has been expressed by the Medical Defence Union and others concerning the circumstances arising from the raid on a Kingston club on 15th December? Is he aware that apparently on that occasion it was suggested that Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act permitted the police to examine confidential medical records, even where it was not alleged that the doctor was in collusion with the police in defeating the law?
§ Mr. CarrI am aware of that case, in which the police acted with a search warrant. I am also aware of two matters in particular. The first is that allegations have been made about the conduct of the police, and these are being investigated in the proper way. The House will agree, I am sure, that it would be wrong for me to say anything further. Secondly, as the hon. Gentleman knows, certain people have been charged and the case is sub judice, which shackles what I can say on the matter at the moment.