Sir H. ROBERTSasked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware of the extension of the cocaine habit in the bazaars and among certain classes of the people of India; whether he will state what are the restrictions at present imposed upon the traffic in this drug, whether the existing Regulations are sufficiently stringent to prevent its importation, possession, and sale except for medical purposes; whether he will give the 883W number of offences connected with cocaine and the aggregate quantities of licit cocaine imported during the last five years; whether he will state what were the countries exporting cocaine to India, giving the quantity annually exported by each of these countries during the same period; and whether the action taken by the Government of India, through His Majesty's Government, to restrict the traffic by international agreement has led to a reduction of the supply of cocaine at its sources and, if so, to what extent?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINIllicit traffic in cocaine continues to be a source of grave anxiety, both to the Government of India and myself, and stringent Regulations on the subject have been framed. I cannot within the limits of a reply give these in detail, but I may say generally that imports are prohibited except under licence, that private possession is punishable, and that sale to private persons by chemists and druggists is permitted only for medical purposes on the prescription of a qualified medical practitioner. The drug, however, lends itself to smuggling by seamen and others in ways which defeat the best conceived Regulations.
Offences in connection with cocaine are not separately shown in all the provincial reports. A statement showing details of licensed imports into India for the last five years will be circulated with the OFFICIAL REPORT.
In regard to the concluding portion of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on the 6th and 18th May, 1915, to questions asked by the hon. Members for Nottingham and the Radcliffe Division.
The following is the statement referred to in the foregoing answer:
884W
IMPORTATION OF COCAINE INTO INDIA. Quantity in ounces. — 1910–11. 1911–12. 1912–13. 1913–14. 1914–15. From United Kingdom 1,199 1,342 1,400 1,143 975 From Ceylon 2 — — — — 1,201 From Foreign Countries (not specified) 180 80 309 313 101 Total 1,381 1,422 1,709 3,456 1,076
§ Sir J. D. REESasked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware of the increasing prevalence of the use of cocaine in the bazaars of Indian towns and among the Indian populations; whether such extended use has followed the restrictions placed upon the growth, sale, and use of opium; whether the connection between the disuse of the less and the use of the more dangerous drug is established; and, if so, whether any steps are being, or will be, taken to facilitate the moderate and medicinal use of opium, and to withdraw such Regulations as incline to ignore anything but its abuse?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a question asked by him on the 2nd March.
EARL of RONALDSHAYasked the Home Secretary if he will consider the advisability of exempting bonâ-fide unregistered practitioners of dentistry from the Order preventing the public from obtaining and using cocaine and its preparations?
Mr. SAMUELI would refer the hon. Members to the reply which I gave yesterday on the same subject to the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme.
§ Mr. J. MASONasked whether permits will be issued to registered and unregistered dental surgeons, respectively, for obtaining the supply of cocaine and its preparations necessary for their practice; and, if not, what substitute for this drug it is suggested that they should employ?
Mr. SAMUELRegistered dentists are included among the classes of persons authorised by the new Regulations to purchase cocaine. As regards unregistered dentists, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I have issued on the subject, and of which I have sent him a copy.