§ 4. Mr. HOGGEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he is in a position to state whether he intends to carry out his proposed restrictions on the use of cocaine by unregistered dentists?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Herbert Samuel)The exemption which allows unregistered dental practitioners to purchase solutions containing 0.1 per cent. or more of cocaine has been extended to 31st October. I am satisfied that there is 87 no need to extend the exemption beyond that date, as other efficient local anæsthetics will be available in sufficient quantities.
§ Mr. RAFFANMay I ask whether in any of the prosecutions which have taken place for violation of the Order in Council with reference to the use of cocaine, the source of supply has been traced to an unregistered practitioner in dentistry?
§ Mr. SAMUELI must ask for notice of that question.
§ Mr. HOGGEWill the right hon. Gentleman apply this restriction also to registered dentists so that the whole supply may be properly controlled?
§ Mr. SAMUELI am advised that it is in no way necessary to apply restrictions to registered dentists, because all those dentists are known from the very fact of registration, but any person could call himself an unregistered dentist and could obtain a supply of cocaine if this restriction were not in force.
§ Mr. HOGGEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a large number of what he calls registered dentists, 1,600, are not qualified, and got on the register when legislative provisions were made with regard to registration?
§ Mr. SAMUELThey have a recognised status.