HC Deb 21 March 1932 vol 263 cc836-8
Mr. C. WILLIAMS

I beg to move, in page 3, line 14, to leave out the word "dihydrohydroxycodeinone."

I merely move this Amendment in order to find out what is meant by this word. I also have an Amendment down, in line 15, to leave out the word "acetyl- dihydrocodeinone." These are fairly simple words from the Greek point of view, but the Committee is entitled to know precisely what is meant when words of this length are put in a Bill. I congratulate the Home Office on putting in words of this kind rather than, as sometimes happens in Bills of this sort, short terms such as "H2O." I believe that these chemicals have something to do with opium.

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Oliver Stanley)

I confess that I am rather puzzled to know why the hon. Member selected this particular drug for his dislike. It is a well-known drug, and he will recognise it when I tell him that it is the drug of which eukodal is the salt. There have been a number of cases of eukodal addiction. It is true that it is a long-winded word, but the hon. Member is the last man to object to that. The hon. Gentleman might have been a little deceived by the particular form that we have used in this Bill, and he might have recognised it easier under the more Continental description of dihydrohydro-oxycodeinone instead of the word used in the Bill. We thought, however, as we were a National Government, it would be better to use the ordinary English form. He may be interested to know that what he calls the short description of it would be C18H21O4H.

Mr. C. WILLIAMS

I thank the hon. Gentleman very sincerely for his explanation, and am glad he has undertaken some research in this matter. Before I ask leave to withdraw my Amendment, may I be reassured that there is no disagreement in the Cabinet on this matter?

Mr. STANLEY

I can assure the hon. Member that I put forward this Bill after full consultation with my right hon. Friend.

Mr. WILLIAMS

In these circumstances, may I ask leave to withdraw the Amendment?

HON. MEMBERS

No!

Amendment negatived.

Mr. C. WILLIAMS

I beg to move, in page 3, line 15, to leave out the word "acetyldihydrocodeinone."

This is a much simpler word, but I should like to ask the hon. Gentleman if it is included in the Bill for the same reason as the former one? I understand it is one of the drugs which the League of Nations wish to see prohibited, and if that is so, I am quite willing for it to go in.

Mr. STANLEY

Acetyldihydrocodeinone is one of the drugs which the Health Committee of the League of Nations has recommended should be controlled. It is a drug which has only recently been placed on the market, and I am not surprised it has not yet come to the hon. Member's notice. It is liable to be used as a drug of addiction, and, in these circumstances, I hope the hon. Member will see fit to withdraw his Amendment.

Mr. WILLIAMS

In these circumstances, may I ask leave to withdraw the Amendment?

HON. MEMBERS

No.

Amendment negatived.

Clauses 2 (Prohibition of trade, etc. in new drugs and power to apply Part 111 of principal Act with or without modifications to certain drugs), 3. (Amendment of s. 6 (2) of Dangerous Drugs and Poisons (Amendment) Act, 1923), 4. (Power to alter or revoke Orders or Declarations in Council) and 5. (Short title, extent, commencement and repeal) ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Preamble agreed to.

Bill reported, without Amendment; read the Third time, and passed, without Amendment.