§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
THE EARL OF ONSLOWMy Lords, this Bill increases the facilities for dealing with the illicit drug traffic which is going on at the present time, and which is largely of an international character. Clause 1 gives increased powers of search in regard to any person suspected of being in illegal possession of these drugs, or of being connected with the drug traffic. At the present time the only power of search which the police 915 possess is the inspection of the books of a person carrying on the business of a dealer in drugs. Clause 2 increases the penalties, which have been found to be quite inadequate to check this traffic. The present maximum is £200, or six months imprisonment, for the first offence, and £500, or two years imprisonment, for subsequent offences. The Bill will increase this to a fine of £1,000, or ten years penal servitude, in the case of a conviction on indictment, and, in cases of summary conviction, a fine of 1!250, or twelve months imprisonment.
The people who commit purely technical offences are insured against the risk of these penalties, because the clause provides that no proceedings for an indictable offence shall be instituted without the consent of the Attorney-General or the Director of Public Prosecutions. Clauses 3, 4 and 5 deal with minor matters. Clauses 3 and 4 substitute for those at present in force certain amended provisions as to the supply of drugs to qualified medical practitioners, and Clause 5 specifies the calculation of the percentages in liquid preparations. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(The Earl of Onslow).
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.