HC Deb 12 April 1934 vol 288 cc467-8
13. Captain ERSKINE-BOLST

asked the Home Secretary whether he has any information as to the time that will elapse before action is taken to place on the appropriate poisons schedule dinitro-phenols and dinitro-cresols, drugs the use of which for slimming purposes has proved fatal in several instances recently?

Sir J. GILMOUR

The steps necessary to add these drugs to Part I of the existing Poisons Schedule have already been taken and notice to that effect will appear in to-morrow's London Gazette. The Statute requires that one month shall elapse from the date of the notice before the provision comes into effect.

Sir REGINALD BANKS

Is it not a fact that up to the present only one case, that to which previous reference has been made, shows a death attributable to one of these drugs. If that be so, the hon. Member's allusion to several instances would be inaccurate?

Sir J. GILMOUR

I do not know.