§ 7. Mr. E. Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will amend the Pharmacy Acts so that the attendance of a qualified pharmacist will not be necessary for the retail sale of a pre-packed advertised patent medicine containing a trivial amount of a scheduled poison.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerNo, Sir. I do not consider that it would be practicable or desirable to depart from the established practice by which exemptions from the law relating to the retail sale of poisons are confined to specified poisons contained in specified substances or preparations.
§ Mr. JohnsonWhilst appreciating the need for caution in these matters, is it not ultra-cautious to require the presence of a qualified pharmacist for the sale of something like Veganin? Could not an experienced deputy be appointed to act for the pharmacist in the sale of articles of that type?
§ Mr. ButlerWe have powers under the Pharmacy and Poisons Act, 1933, and the 539 Third Schedule to the Poisons Rules, 1952, to make certain exceptions. For the moment, I should like to rely on those powers and see what can be done under them.