§ Mr. RAMSDENasked the Home Secretary, in view of the moral and physical damage caused by the illegal sale of cocaine and similar drugs, if he can see his way, with a view to stopping this sale, to order that 12 strokes of the cat, in addition to imprisonment for six months or more with hard labour, be given to all vendors who are caught illegally selling those drugs?
§ Mr. SHORTTI have no power to make any such Order as is suggested. The penalties are fixed by Section 13 of the Dangerous Drugs Act and cannot be altered without legislation. The maximum penalty allowed by the Act (for a first offence six months' imprisonment with hard labour, or a fine of£200, or both) ought in my opinion to be a sufficient deterrent, and I could not undertake to introduce amending legislation of the nature suggested.