TNAG-0690-FCO40-839-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 43

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as follows: lajesty's Government thorities are advised ed persons who have t age to engage in tary occupations of

on.

Lords, the provision a statutory responsi- rities. However, the se that many people on age wish to con- ht, whether paid or athise with this wish.

aware of the impor- hich some employers sations are making to find suitable work. view, this is an area ocal initiatives.

: My Lords, while ble friend's Answer al authorities have no ty in a matter of this Department can cir- dvise them to create

nisation which will ervoir of talent being fiver. Surely some-

It requires some tion, and surely the ome responsibility in something more be

y Lords, I recognise d has said about the available in this age quite a number of ons throughout the vernment would wish ork. I doubt whether ate organisation, or rities to carry out this

te helpfully.

: My Lords, is my hat I am not asking eparate organisation? many organisations cal authorities, with common sense and ed for some action, who can take charge a bit of guts into it. done.

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Narcotics:

[7 MARCH 1977]

Lord ORAM: My Lords, local autho- rities could take informal action, but at the moment they have not any statutory powers in this

respect. However, I should not like my noble friend to think that we are unsympathetic to the general proposal that he brings forward, which is that there is a need to open up avenues whereby retired people may engage in active occupations.

Lord LEATHERLAND: My Lords, might I ask my noble friend --and I do so as one who is approaching early middle age-whether it would not be possible for the Ministry of Labour job centres to be asked to compile registers of old people --one of those who want paid part-time employment and another of those who are willing to do voluntary work?

Lord ORAM: My Lords, certainly job centres are able and willing to give advice to people of any age who wish to seek employment. My nobel friend's suggestion about a register is an interesting one, which I will consider.

NARCOTICS: ILLEGAL

2.55 p.m.

IMPORTATION

Lord GRIDLEY: My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are satisfied with the existing organisation available in the United Kingdom for detection of the illegal importation of narcotics, with particular reference to the seizure of 26 lbs. of heroin (valued at £1,625,000) at the Port of Cardiff.

The PARLIAMENTARY UNDER- SECRETARY OF STATE, DEPART- MENT of the ENVIRONMENT (Baroness Birk): Yes, my Lords. Her Majesty's Customs and Excise keep under active review the deployment of staff against smuggling as well as methods of detection. The seizure at Cardiff reflects the effective- ness of Customs' methods.

Lord GRIDLEY: My Lords, while thanking the noble Baroness for that reply, and expressing my appreciation

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Illegal Importation

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of the work of the Customs and Excise and the police in this detection, may I ask her whether she really thinks that at the present time our services are sufficiently geared by way of manpower and facilities to deal with this threat, which is increasing; that is to say, the threat of narcotic smuggling into this country? Has the noble Baroness seen the statement or expression of opinion to the effect that, out of the total quantity of heroin being smuggled into this country at the present time, only 10 per cent. is being detected? Would she like to comment on that? Is it not a fact that there has been a great increase in addiction to heroin over the last seven years-that is to say, from 1970 -and have the Government any infor- mation that any subversive activity is being employed in this trade, from which profits as great as £1,500,000 can be made on the black market through the smuggling of 26 lbs. of heroin?

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Baroness BIRK: My Lords, on the noble Lord's last supplementary question, as to whether we have any knowledge of subversive activity, I would say that that is quite a different question. It deals with the whole of the drug trade", whereas his original Question concerned Customs and Excise. We are satisfied that as a recent thorough-going review of Customs preventive services indicated, staff savings could be made by more effective use of resources, and this without loss to existing standards of preventive control.

As to the increase in addiction, this has been going on, as the noble Lord will be aware, over some period of time. In the case to which he referred, in Cardiff, the find was as a result of normal boarding and inspection. No special effort was mounted; and this, I think we must agree, really reflects both the keenness shown by the staff and the effectiveness of their methods. In the last couple of days, one man has been charged with the illegal importation of the heroin found at Cardiff, and he and two others have also been charged with the illegal importation of cannabis. All I can say is that the methods used and the deployment of staff are such as to try to deal as effectively as possible with this problem. I would prefer not to go into further details on deployment, because I think that could only be of great assistance to the people