HL Deb 26 January 1956 vol 195 cc616-8

3.39 p.m.

THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (LORD MANCROFT)

My Lords, with your Lordships' permission. I should like to make a statement, which is also being made in reply to Questions in another place, about heroin. The Government's aim in deciding to ban the manufacture of heroin was to co-operate in a widespread international effort, to which more than fifty countries have subscribed, to help to eliminate the abuse of the drug in various parts of the world. Before reaching the decision, the Government had taken the advice of the statutory advisory bodies—namely, the Standing Medical Advisory Committees in England and Wales and in Scotland.

The Government have been advised, however, that it is not possible under the present law of this country to prohibit the manufacture of heroin. There is no similar legal obstacle in the way of prohibiting the export and import of heroin, and the Government have accordingly decided to prohibit entirely, as from the first of this month, exports of this drug to countries outside the British Islands, except for such small amounts as may be necessary for scientific purposes only, and all imports. As regards manufacture, the Government have decided to restrict the manufacture of heroin in this country to the quantities actually required for home medical consumption and scientific use.

3.40 p.m.

VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLS-BOROUGH

My Lords, I am sure that many Members of your Lordships' House will welcome the statement that has been made by the noble Lord, Lord Mancroft. I must say that I think my noble and learned friend Lord Jowitt, who is absent from the House, would feel that in large degree the case he made to the House before the Recess has been met by the proposal of the Government. It is unfortunate that before the original proposal was made it was not discovered that it was not possible under the law to carry it out. In regard to the proposals made in this statement concerning future action that is to say, the limiting of production for medical purposes here, or with only a limited amount for export—the question arises how that is to be arranged. Is it to be done by the laying of regulations under the Dangerous Drugs Act, or what are the details of the proposals of the Government in this matter?

LORD MANCROFT

My Lords, perhaps I might answer the question of the noble Viscount, Lard Alexander of Hillsborough. There is no difficulty whatever about the control of the manufacture of heroin. It has always been tightly controlled in this country. I believe that only two firms—certainly not more—manufacture heroin: it is done under licence, and there will be no difficulty in controlling it.

LORD REA

My Lords, this matter has never been a Party matter and I hope it never will be. I should like to express what I imagine is the view of most of your Lordships in saying that the Government have acted quickly and satisfactorily in this matter, and we are grateful for what they have done. The question of export to the Commonwealth might possibly arise, but that does not come under the statement made by the noble Lord, Lord Mancroft. We are grateful for what the noble Lord has said.

LORD HADEN-GUEST

My Lords, may I congratulate the Government on what appears to be an extremely good arrangement, which will meet the difficulties put forward by those who did not want to have excessive use of heroin in this country? This will confine it entirely to its proper medical use, under strict supervision, and it will do much good, especially in Canada.

VISCOUNT ELIBANK

My Lords, may l say that the fact that there will be no prohibition of the manufacture of heroin in this country will be received with great gratification by many members of the medical and surgical professions and by suffering patients throughout the country?

LORD SILKIN

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord, Lord Mancroft, about the question of restricting the manufacture? I gather from him, in reply to my noble friend Lord Alexander of Hillsborough, that there was no difficulty about restricting, because it was already being done. What does he mean, then, by saying that the Government have decided to restrict the manufacture of heroin in this country? It appears as if that is a new decision and not a continuation of an existing one.

LORD MANCROFT

My Lords, it is not quite that. The manufacture was always strictly controlled but, as the noble Lord, Lord Silkin, will probably remember, and as I told him in the debate that we had on this subject in December, we did a large amount of the export of the world's heroin. Nevertheless it was controlled. The control will now be further extended to allow of only the very limited amount of home production which I have just described.

LORD SILKIN

My Lords, I take it that it is the same control, but exercised in such a way that manufacture will be restricted to requirements within the country?

LORD MANCROFT

Precisely.

LORD SILKIN

It is not a new control?

LORD MANCROFT

No.