§ 12. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recommendations are to be made to firms registered under the Drugs Act, 1964, to improve their security arrangements.
§ Miss BaconMy right hon. Friend has arranged for Home Office inspectors to visit some of the firms registered under the Drugs (Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1964. As soon as he has received their reports, the trade associations will be invited to discuss the question of improved security.
§ Mrs. ShortIs my right hon. Friend aware that this matter is very urgent and that the reply she has given is no advance on the reply which she gave to me on 4th August, when answering my Adjournment debate on the subject of drugs? Is she aware that this is a very important source of drugs which reach the illegal market and that this must be stopped? Will she take steps to get matters moving as quickly as possible?
§ Miss BaconMy hon. Friend is mistaken in saying that my Answer is no advance on what I said previously. In August I said that all firms registered under the 1964 Act were being asked to provide a description of their security arrangements and their arrangements for drugs in transit. This has already been done and we are now doing a follow-up by having visits by Home Office inspectors to some of the firms.
§ 13. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is now taking to prevent the sale of drugs which purport to be abortifacient.
§ Miss BaconTo promote a drug as an abortifacient is already an offence under Section 9 of the Pharmacy and Medicines Act, 1941. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Health is considering the adequacy of this provision in his review of medicines legislation. My right hon. Friend is ready to consider controls over any particular drug if it is shown to be harmful.
§ Mrs. ShortIs my right hon. Friend aware that large supplies of drugs, generally based on quinine, are being sold expensively as abortifacients, although they are absolutely useless? Is she aware that these drugs can be obtained not only from chemists' shops but from grocers as well? Is she further aware that frequently there are reports of women who have died because of taking overdoses of these useless drugs? Does she not think that these drugs should be available only on doctors' prescriptions?
§ Miss BaconI am aware of what my hon. Friend says and, because of that, I am arranging for quinine to be considered by the Poisons Board; and, if necessary, appropriate action will be taken.