§ 7. Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the operation of the law in regard to drug offences.
§ Mr. Alexander W. LyonIn general, yes, Sir.
§ Mr. McCrindleIs the Minister satisfied that the law as it stands has a sufficient deterrent effect upon young people in regard to drug offences, bearing in mind the seeming rise in the incidence of such offences? Will the Minister confirm that the Government do not intend to legislate to take so-called soft drugs out of the ambit of the law?
§ Mr. LyonThe Government have no intention of legislating in the way the hon. Gentleman indicates. The maximum penalties available for the misuse of drugs are adequate to deal with any cases.
§ Mr. RoseIs my hon. Friend aware that much confusion and much unevenness of sentencing is caused by the failure of the statute law satisfactorily to distinguish between hard drugs of addiction and drugs that are socially unacceptable? Will he consider the premise that the pres- 1654 ent state of the law is far more likely to bring users of the latter comparatively innocuous drugs into contact with pedlers of potential killers, such as heroin?
§ Mr. LyonI know that there is a respectable body of opinion that agrees with my hon. Friend, but I am afraid that I do not.