§ 45. Mr. Garrowasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that drugs, which to children are often mistaken for sweets, are in wide circulation; and if he will consult manufacturers with a view to introducing legislation on standardisation of colour and shape.
§ Mr. LoughlinSome drugs look like sweets and some sweets look like drugs. In his review of medicines legislation my right hon. Friend is considering the need for powers to facilitate the identification of medicines by colour or shape or for example the tablets or capsules in which they are made up. But legislation in itself cannot be fully effective against accidents. The best safeguard is to keep all drugs out of the reach of children.
§ Mr. GarrowIs my hon. Friend aware that in recent months there has been at least one fatality and several cases of serious illness because of this mistake being made by young children? Does he not agree that some measures should be taken because the possible saving of human life is of paramount importance and should take precedence over every other consideration?
§ Mr. LoughlinObviously the saving of human life is of paramount importance 914 but this is a question of how we can overcome the possibility of children eating drugs which may be harmful to them, and we consider that the only way in which this can possibly be done is by parents accepting their responsibility to see that drugs are not placed in such a position that children can get hold of them.