HC Deb 12 June 1961 vol 642 cc1-2
6. Mr. Darling

asked the Minister of Health whether, following the report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Drug Addiction, he will make representations to the Independent Television Authority regarding the need to ensure that false claims are not made for drugs advertised by television.

The Minister of Health (Mr. Enoch Powell)

I understand that drugs of the type referred to in the Report are not advertised on television.

Mr. Darling

Although the Report, as I understand the Minister has said, refers to prescribed drugs, is there not a case for seeing that drugs which are advertised generally in the Press and on television are examined by some reputable body to make sure that no misleading claims are made on their behalf by the manufacturers and advertisers?

Mr. Powell

Any general question of limitations and so on on television must be for my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General, but the Food and Drugs Act prohibits false or misleading descriptions of drugs in advertisements.