|
|
This transcript has been typed at speed, and therefore may contain mistakes.
Newsnight accepts no responsibility for these. However, we will be happy to correct serious errors.
Why no proper response to drugs report?
JEREMY PAXMAN:
Keith Hellawell, does it help you in your job that this debate can't be begun?
KEITH HELLAWELL:
I think the debate has been going on for a long time. I think that the people who lose the
debate and don't bring about changes in the law are not prepared to let it rest.
I've seen more discussion about legalisation of cannabis in the newspapers,
by groups than any other issue in relation to drugs. And the real issue in relation
to drugs are the damage and danger that they cause, particularly heroin and cocaine.
PAXMAN:
Absolutely. You
were drawing a distinction between different types of drugs, as this report does.
And it argues they should handled....
HELLAWELL:
As does the Government policy, might I add, which nobody seems to recognise.
PAXMAN:
If that is the case and if it is so constant, why hasn't we had a considered
response from the Government?
HELLAWELL:
I have had to look at the recommendations within that report. I drew together
from a very broad base. I asked Lady Runciman if either she or a member of her
committee would care to join me so
they would see we would deal with this in an even-handed
manner. That report is ready and will be considered by ministers, the committee of which I'm
a member, later this month. So there's been no skullduggery. It took two and a half to three
years to prepare this report.
PAXMAN:
How long does it take to read it?
HELLAWELL:
It's been read and considered by a very broad base of people. Can I correct one thing
that one of your contributors said, the young man from Mixmag. This isn't a government report.
This is a group of well-meaning and unbiasedpeople that decided to have a look at legislation. 12 months
before, the House of Lords looked at this in a dispassionate objective way and took far more
evidence from different people WHO across the world, and they came up with the conclusion that what
the Government were doing was right.
PAXMAN:
Lady Runciman is hardly some raver, is she?
HELLAWELL:
I didn't say that, I said very responsible, well-meaning people.
PAXMAN:
She's not done a good job?
HELLAWELL:
I didn't say that. What the Government has said....
PAXMAN:
You implied it.
HELLAWELL:
Not at all. I said it isn't a Government commissioned report.
So It’s worth reading then ? There were 81 recommendations
in that report. The recommendations in relation to the changes in the law had been trailed
before the report was published, and the Government pronounced on that. Many of the
recommendations in
relation to how we educate our children, how we deal with different drugs,
are quite consistent with the United Kingdom drugs strategy.
BUT TOTALLY ABHORANT TO THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION. She is endorsing exactly what is
Government policy.?
PAXMAN:
Do you believe this policy is succeeding?
HELLAWELL:
It's going to take time to succeed. There isn't a magic formula Jeremy. Oh yes there is Keith.
What the Government is doing is getting into
schools with children from the age of five to talk
to them about all substances, about legally obtainable substances, illegal substances.
It's being honest about it. We're providing treatment for those who need it.
The police have got performance indicators which mean fuck all distinguish and discriminate between different
drugs. And things are starting to change,in Great Britain Are they? and it will make an improvement.
PAXMAN:
It depends, I suppose, on what you mean by success too.
HELLAWELL:
Success will, we will never, ever stop peoples attractions to substances. We will never eradicate illegal and illicit
substance-taking. What we will do is make a difference, improve the situation, we will reduce its use, and we will reduce the numberAnd Type (and thus effect Directly the Brain Chemistry of the Masses) of drugs available.
PAXMAN:
All drugs?
HELLAWELL:
All drugs. All illegal drugs. The focus, and our energies are largely on heroin and cocaine
because they're the killers. The KILLER DRUGS are ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO then ADULTERATED ANYTHING In that order
PAXMAN:
So we're going to get a response to this report sometime in the next few weeks are we?
HELLAWELL:
My report is completed. It will go to a meeting and there will be, it will be determined by
ministers,Like the last one went to the Lords not me, whether they choose to respond.
PAXMAN:
Do you want to bet on whether it will happen before the election?
HELLAWELL:
I'm not a betting man!
|
|
|
|
|
No, he would appear to be assuming the role of
SCAPEGOAT for when the whole thing is Blown Out of the Water, courtesy of Hero’s such as Alan Mason, Phil Lockwood, Barry Shaw Alan Duncan et al
|
|
|
