HL Deb 22 July 1985 vol 466 cc984-6

2.41 p.m.

Lord Harris of Greenwich

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, following the speech by the Lord Chief Justice on 9th July, they will indicate when they propose to introduce legislation to deal with the illicit profits made by convicted drug traffickers.

Baroness Cox

My Lords, our proposals are at an advanced stage of preparation. My right honourable friend the Home Secretary hopes that there will be an opportunity for legislation in the next Session.

Lord Harris of Greenwich

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for that reply. Is she aware that most of us are most eager to see this legislation come before Parliament? Is she aware that the statement made by the Lord Chief Justice at a judges' dinner represents the overwhelming view of public opinion in this country that one must make now a determined attack upon those responsible for making fortunes out of this trade? Secondly, may I ask whether the legislation will cover the Channel Islands as well as the situation in Great Britain, given the fact of an increasing number of allegations that financial institutions in the Channel Islands are being used in the course of this traffic?

Baroness Cox

My Lords, we would indeed agree that drug traffickers bring untold misery into society. I think that everyone in your Lordships' House will agree that it is intolerable that even after conviction they should enjoy the proceeds of their crimes. Therefore I am sure your Lordships will welcome the fact that my right honourable friend the Prime Minister only last Monday indicated the Government's intention to introduce a law in the next Session of Parliament to strip traffickers of their profits from the sale of these drugs. In regard to the second of the supplementary questions of the noble Lord, Lord Harris, concerning the Channel Islands, this matter has been the subject of discussion with representatives of Jersey and Guernsey. The Home Affairs Committee have been looking into this matter and we look forward to learning their findings.

Lord Elwyn-Jones

My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that the proposed legislation will receive the strong and unanimous support of this side of the House? Can she give an indication of whether it will be in the early, the middle or the later part of the coming Session that we can look forward to this?

Baroness Cox

My Lords, perhaps I may say how much we welcome the support that the proposed legislation has had from all Benches in your Lordships' House. I am afraid that I am no oracle and cannot give an indication of at what stage the legislation will be coming forward.

Viscount Hanworth

My Lords, will the noble Baroness confirm that the new legislation will make some attempt to follow through the profits, however they may have been disposed of and however difficult it may be to do so?

Baroness Cox

My Lords, I am not sure what the noble Viscount means by "follow through the profits". However, I assure him that we regard provision for freezing assets at or just before the time of arrest as essential to the effectiveness of the new confiscation powers.

Lord Boyd-Carpenter

My Lords, will my noble friend bear in mind that these people are apt, when threatened with prosecution, to transfer some of their ill-gotten gains to their immediate families in the hope that they may share the proceeds with them when they are released? Will my noble friend make sure that the legislation will deal not only with property in the hands of the convicted man but also of his known relations?

Baroness Cox

Indeed, my Lords, I believe that the people working on the proposals are aware of the fact that that is a very real problem, and cognizance will be taken of it.

Baroness Gaitskell

My Lords, is the Minister aware that I was one of the first people in favour of televising this House, and all that I received was contempt and laughter, and such like? I am very pleased to see that noble Lords are in favour of it now. Thank you very much.

Baroness Cox

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness very much for that contribution.

Baroness Masham of Ilton

My Lords, as the drug problem is a world-wide problem, can the Minister say which other countries already have this proposed legislation?

Baroness Cox

My Lords, I understand that a few countries, most notably the United States, already have legislation in this respect. Many more are actively considering its introduction. I may also point out that that trend is being encouraged by extensive discussion of confiscation issues which has taken place in the United Nations and in the Pompidou group.

Lord Balfour of Inchrye

My Lords, although we do not normally like making legislation restrospective, is there any chance of doing so in this case?

Baroness Cox

My Lords, I am not in a position to comment on that suggestion, but I shall draw it to the attention of my right honourable friend.