§ Mr. REESasked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the promise made by him in June, 1907, and the statement of Professor Hewlett in the recent Milroy lectures, delivered before the Royal College of Physicians, to the effect that during the years 1905, 1906, and 1907, 28,000 gallons, 37,000 gallons, and 66,000 gallons of liquid were sold as disinfectant under the Privy Council Order of 31st July, 1900, whereby grocers and oil and colourmen were prohibited from selling disinfectants containing more than 3 per cent. of carbolic acid, the result of which, as the leading authorities all agreed, was to place a premium on adulteration and inefficiency, he would now state what steps he contemplated taking to remedy this evil?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Masterman)As he has stated in reply to a previous question, my right hon. Friend is not empowered to fix standards of disinfectants, and it does not appear to him that he could usefully take action in the matter. I may add that there is little public advantage in the domestic use of disinfectants as deodorants. Where they are used to remove infection they are commonly employed under the advice of a medical officer of health or other medical man, who would be trusted to order disinfectants which are efficient.
§ Mr. REESwas understood to ask whether the hon. Gentleman was aware, as a matter of fact, that in every Government Department a standard was fixed by custom?