§ 66. Mr. Hastingsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many suspected cases of heroin addiction are known to his Department at the present time; and how many persons were convicted of offences involving heroin, who are themselves known or believed to be addicted to the drug, during each of the last five years.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeFifty-two heroin addicts are known in England and Wales and two in Scotland. At the present 25W time there are no persons in respect of whom addiction is suspected but not proved. Drug addiction is not compulsorily notifiable in this country, but I have no ground for thinking that there is any substantial hidden addiction. From 1st January, 1950, to date, 23 persons were convicted in respect of 24 offences involving heroin, one person having been convicted twice. Of these 23 persons, 15 are know heroin addicts and one person, who has since left the country, was suspected to be addicted to the drug.
The following table gives the annual particulars for which the hon. Member asks:
- In 1950: 3 persons convicted, all addicts.
- In 1951: 4 persons convicted, of whom 2 were addicts.
- In 1952: 2 persons convicted, of whom 1 was an addict and 1 a suspected addict.
- In 1953: 5 persons convicted, of whom 3 were addicts.
- In 1954: 7 persons convicted (1 of them twice), of whom 3 were addicts.
- In 1955: 3 persons convicted, of whom all 3 were addicts.