§ 28. Mr. DAVID GRENFELLasked the Home Secretary whether he has appointed any inspectors to supervise the sale of drugs of the barbituric group; and whether he is satisfied that power exists under the existing law to prevent the increasing sale of these dangerous drugs?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe Pharmacy and Poisons Acts contain no provision for the appointment of Government Inspectors. As regards the second part of the question I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a question on this subject by the hon. Member for Reading (Dr. Howitt) on the 1st instant. I have no reason, as at present advised, to suppose that the powers of control of the sale of poisons conferred by the Pharmacy and Poisons Act, 1933, will not prove adequate for this purpose.
§ Mr. GRENFELLHas the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the alleged increase in the number of addicts, and to the undoubted increase in fatalities due to the use of these drugs?
§ Sir J. GILMOUROf course, all that information has come to me, and I hope that the new regulations under the Act will be effective.