§ MR. BOUSFIELD (Marylebone, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that large numbers of unqualified persons habitually practise as medical men or apothecaries, or assistants thereof, in London and other populous places; whether the only power of preventing such persons from so practising is vested in the Society of Apothecaries under the Act 55 Geo. 3, c. 194, except in cases where such persons use titles prohibited by "The Medical Act, 1858," s. 40; whether the Society of Apothecaries have ceased to use their powers under their Act for many years; and whether he is prepared to consider the advisability of conferring powers similar to those possessed by the Society of Apothecaries upon the General Medical Council, or whether he can suggest any other method of checking such unqualified practitioners?
§ MR. ASQUITHsaid that he was not aware of any means by which he could ascertain the extent to which unqualified persons practised as medical men or apothecaries in London or other populous places. The power of preventing such persons practising lay alone with the Society of Apothecaries, and that only, so far as practising as apothecaries was concerned. He was informed that the Society had not ceased to exercise its power, but he was not prepared to introduce legislation on the subject.
§ MR. BOUSFIELDCan the right hon. Gentleman state when last the Society of Apothecaries exercised this power?
§ MR. ASQUITHI must ask for notice of that.