§ 71. Mr. PETOasked the Minister of Health whether he has consulted the Law Officers of the Crown as to the effect of the Venereal Disease Act, 1917, in connection with the Report of the Committee of Inquiry on Venereal Disease under the Chairmanship of Lord Trevethin; and, if so, whether he can give the House their opinion as to the position of chemists under the Act, and the necessity for legislation, if effect is to be given to the recommendations in Clause 14 of the Committee's Report?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI have consulted the Law Officers of the Crown as to the effect of Sub-section (2) of Section 2 of the Venereal Disease Act, 1917, and I am advised by them that there is nothing in the Sub-section to prevent a chemist selling disinfectants for the prevention of venereal disease where no written or printed instructions are affixed to or delivered with the disinfectant, or from giving verbal recommendations of medicinal preparations intended to be used or applied for the purpose. In the light of this opinion, it would appear that legislation would be necessary in order to permit written or printed instructions to be supplied with the disinfectant, or to restrict the existing powers of chemists by confining them to the sale of articles, the composition of which had been approved by a competent authority.
§ Mr. PETOIn view of the importance to the public health of written instructions being allowed to be sold with these disinfectants, will the right hon. Gentleman take the necessary steps to make the law conform to the purpose of Lord Trevethin's Report?