§ 26. Sir J. D. REESasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the inquest held at Henley on 4th February on Mr. Green, who died from cocaine poisoning following upon a dental operation, the drug having been administered by an unqualified person who was severely censured by the jury; to the inquest held on 4th March on Mrs. Petersen, in whose case also cocaine was administered by an unqualified person under similar circumstances; whether he is aware that there are in the United Kingdom 20,000 persons practising as dentists who have not yet qualified; that any layman can administer 2211 chloroform or cocaine, ether, and other anæsthetics; and whether it is proposed that, under the National Insurance Act, arrangements with any unqualified person who may succeed in imposing on any insured person shall be officially recognised?
§ Mr. McKENNAI cannot add anything to the answers given by me to the question of the hon. Member for the Brentford Division on the 26th March, and by my right hon. Friend the Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member's question of Monday last, except to point out that my Department is not concerned with the administration of the National Insurance Act.
§ Sir J. D. REESMay I ask if there is no law relating to dentists in this respect, and whether the right hon. Gentleman is not concerned with that matter?
§ Mr. McKENNAI would ask the hon. Gentleman to give notice of that question.
§ Mr. RAFFANMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the number of dental surgeons in this country is quite insufficient to attend to the needs of the public, and will he see that no monopoly is established?
§ Mr. McKENNAI think that question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend.