§ 20. Mr. H. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that prescriptions containing dangerous drugs and poisons may be dispensed in the Royal Army Medical Corps by persons other than medical officers or pharmacists, he will give instructions that such prescriptions shall in future only be dispensed by a medical officer or pharmacist, or under the direct supervision of a medical officer or pharmacist by whom the quantity of the dangerous drugs or poisons shall be checked?
§ Captain KINGAll Army dispensaries are under the direct supervision of a medical officer. The only persons, other than medical officers, who may make up prescriptions in these dispenssaries are qualified Army dispensers, and they may only make up prescriptions signed by a medical officer. I am not aware of any reason for considering that the present procedure is not satisfactory.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSHas a qualified Army dispenser qualifications equal to those of a chemist's assistant?
§ Captain KINGI believe that "qualified dispenser" is a well-recognised description.
Vice-Admiral Sir REGINALD HALLHas any attention been called to the 230 unanimous Report of the Committee on the Payment and Status of Pharmacists in the Army?
§ Captain KINGOh, yes.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEDoes not that Report state that pharmacists should be employed by the War Office?
§ Captain KINGIn one of the recommendations of the Report certain duties were allotted to pharmacists.
Dr. VERNON DAVIESIs it the case that such a man in the. Army would not be allowed to dispense under the National Health Insurance Act for the civil population, and does my hon. and gallant Friend think that the Army should be in a different position from the civil population?
§ Captain KINGI am not aware that a qualified dispenser is not allowed to make up prescriptions in ordinary civil life.
§ 21. Brigadier - General CHARTERISasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to Recommendation 3 of the committee appointed by the Army Council to consider the employment of pharmacists in the Army; and if a superintending pharmacist is now in subordinate charge of the dispensary in each and every military hospital of 100 teds and over?
§ Captain KINGI am aware of the recommendation referred to. The Army Council Instruction was cancelled in April, 1922. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.
§ 26. Captain BOURNEasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, as a result of representations made by the Army Council, pharmacists who volunteer for service in the British Red Cross units are no longer regarded as officers; and whether he can state the grounds on which these representations were made?
§ Captain KINGThe War Office have advised the Central Voluntary Aid Detachment Council, who consulted them on the subject, that the status of pharmacists in their detachments should not fee higher than that of non-commissioned officers in the Army. The reason is that the status of members of voluntary aid detachments should be appropriate 231 to the duties they may be required to perform in war. There are no appointments of officer's rank for pharmacists in the Army.
§ 27. Captain BOURNEasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that units of the British Red Cross Society are regarded as being in the nature of a reserve to the Royal Army Medical Corps in time of war, he will give instructions that quartermasters, whose duty it will be to order and superintend the distribution of medical supplies, shall be qualified pharmacists?
§ Captain KINGNo, Sir, I should not be justified in giving such instructions.