HC Deb 01 April 1963 vol 675 cc10-2
8. Mr. Driberg

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to check the distribution of Imipramine, Marzine, and any other drugs whose use by pregnant women may lead to foetal abnormalities similar to those caused by the use of thalidomide.

Mr. Powell

Imipramine is on prescription only. A warning label is being attached to Marzine, which is under consideration by the Poisons Board.

Mr. Driberg

Have any supplies of these drugs been distributed in circumstances which could lead to anything like the thalidomide tragedy? Is the Minister satisfied that there could not be a similar situation?

Mr. Powell

I should make it clear that it has not been established that either of these drugs can in fact produce these effects in the human foetus, but in general it is most desirable that in the early stages of pregnancy any drug should be taken only on medical advice.

Dr. Stross

Is the Minister aware that many drugs on some animals can bring about abnormalities in the foetus—that aspirin in big doses in mice could bring about abnormalities—but it does not follow that they would affect human beings?

Mr. Powell

Yes, sir.

Mr. Driberg

Was not thalidomide distributed on medical advice?

Mr. Powell

Yes, but the evidence in regard to thalidomide is entirely different from the evidence in regard to these drugs.

24. Dr. Stross

asked the Minister of Health whether he will introduce legislation to provide for the control of medicines, drugs and poisons, and for such control to be vested in the Minister of Health, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Mr. Powell

I expect advice on this shortly from the Joint Sub-Committee on Safety of Drugs.

Dr. Stross

When the Minister has received this reply, will he bear in mind that a medicine is either quite inert and therefore useless or is potentially a poison? Will he therefore put an end to this rather absurd anomaly of allowing the Home Office to have charge of a field of activity which he himself should be supervising completely?

Mr. Powell

The hon. Member's supplementary question draws attention to one of the many difficulties in this field which makes it particularly advisable to me to await the guidance of the subcommittee.