§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek to consult with the organisation Release concerning the problem of cannabis smoking and the treatment of offenders.
§ Mr. SharplesMy right hon. Friend looks to the Advisory Council on Misuse of Drugs for advice on matters of this kind, but he is willing to consider any representations that interested organisations may wish to make.
§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will set up a medical inquiry into the relative effects of alcohol and cannabis.
§ Mr. SharplesNo.
§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek to call a conference of experts in the field of drugs and social welfare, and magistrates and judges, to consider the problem of appropriate sentences in relation to the possession and smoking of cannabis.
§ Mr. SharplesMy right hon. Friend sees no need for a conference directed to this particular topic. Offences of this kind are among those considered at sentencing conferences, attended by judges, magistrates and others, arranged by my noble Friend, the Lord Chancellor.
§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average age of those convicted of offences involving possession of cannabis in 1970 and 1971.
§ Mr. SharplesIn 1970, 22 years 6 months. Similar information for 1971 is not yet available.
§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average age of those convicted of offences involving alcohol during 1970 and 1971.
§ Mr. SharplesThe available information relates to the age group of offenders. The following table shows by age group the numbers of persons found guilty in 1970 of offences classified in the Criminal Statistics as simple drunkenness, drunken-250W ness with aggravations, and driving or being in charge of a motor vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs:
Aged under 14 9 Aged 14 and under 17 982 Aged 17 and under 21 14,204 Aged 21 and over 89,826 105,021 Statistics for 1971 are not yet available.
§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up a department of the Prison Service to specialise in the care and control of offenders convicted of offences connected with drugs and alcohol.
§ Mr. SharplesNo. Existing arrangements already ensure that close attention is given to these problems, with particular reference to possible new methods of treatment.
§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions there were in 1970 and 1971 in respect of offences involving cannabis and hard drugs, respectively, in the Manchester, Liverpool, Inner London, Middlesex and Surrey Crown Court areas, respectively, whether summarily or on indictment.
§ Mr. SharplesI am arranging to obtain such information as is available and I shall write to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions involving, drink, including driving offences, there were during 1970 and 1971 in the areas of the Manchester, Liverpool, Inner London, Middlesex and Surrey Crown Court areas, respectively, whether summarily or on indictment.
§ Mr. SharplesI am obtaining such information as is available and will write to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will initiate a comparative study of the effects of taking alcohol and smoking cannabis in relation to the commission of criminal offences.
§ Mr. SharplesNo. My right hon. Friend does not believe that on present 251W information a comparative study of the kind suggested could be productive.
§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to include alcohol in the schedule of prohibited drugs on the same basis as cannabis.
§ Mr. SharplesNo.