§ Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies he has undertaken to determine the proportion of drug pushers who are themselves addicts, the proportion of drug addicts who do themselves pass on drugs at some time, and for what motives, and the degree to which addicts who do pass on drugs are able to do so because of the difficulties of those with responsibility for treatment in assessing the real needs of their patients.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsAs regards narcotics, the Interdepartmental Committee on Drug Addiction concluded in its Second Report that over-prescribing by a few doctors was the major source of supply for the increased numbers of heroin and cocaine addicts coming to notice since 1959, and the provisions of the Dangerous Drugs Bill are designed to remedy this situation. I will consider what further quantitative survey would be desirable in the light of the working of the Bill, if enacted.
§ Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions he will issue to newly amalgamated police forces to ensure that the work of localised drug squads with their local knowledge and confidence does not suffer 224W by dilution in a more remote and impersonal county flying squad approach.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsI am confident that the chief constables of newly amalgamated forces will take steps to see that the most effective use is made of the resources at their disposal, taking local circumstances into account.