§ SIR GILBERT PARKER (Gravesend)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether official tests are made of patent medicines offered to the public as to the amount of alcohol which they contain: whether there is any limit to its use in patent medicines; if so, what is it; and what penalties are attached. to misuse.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. RUNCIMAN, Dewsbury)Perhaps I may be permitted to answer this Question. Samples of medicines are from time to time tested at the Government Laboratory, in order to ascertain whether they are sufficiently medicated to be entitled to the privilege of sale without a spirit licence. There is no limit to the use of alcohol, but in every case there must be sufficient medication to secure that the preparation cannot be vended as a beverage. The sale as a medicine of any article not entitled to be regarded as a medicine would subject the offender to the penalties applicable to the unauthorised sale of spirits.