HC Deb 27 April 1967 vol 745 cc1808-9
20 and 43. Mr. Luard

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he has yet received the report of the Poisons Board on the sale of quinine;

(2) what decision he has reached on the report of the Poisons Board concerning the sale of quinine.

Miss Bacon

The Board has recommended that quinine and preparations containing 10 per cent. or more of quinine should be sold against prescription only by authorised sellers of poisons from registered premises. I propose to consider this recommendation in the light of any representations that may be made by interested bodies.

Mr. Luard

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this Answer will be widely welcomed, and that the matters announced in it may help to prevent the repetition of such a tragic incident as occurred recently in Oxford when a young girl lost her life through taking an overdose of quinine, in the belief that it would terminate her pregnancy?

Miss Bacon

I am aware of that, and I should like to thank my hon. Friend for what he has done in bringing this to our notice.