HC Deb 18 February 1971 vol 811 c2114
32. Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to introduce legislation restricting the sale of hypodermic syringes to persons of 18 years of age or over.

Mr. Sharpies

No, Sir.

Mr. McNair-Wilson

My hon. Friend will be aware, since I have sent him a hypodermic syringe bought in my constituency by a child of eight, that they are freely available to anyone. When the drug figures are going up by leaps and bounds, are we wise to allow this vital instrument of the drug trade to go on being freely available to children?

Mr. Sharples

The Pharmaceutical Society has advised its members to deal personally with requests to purchase syringes, to ensure that they are required for genuine medical purposes. The solution posed by my hon. Friend might have worse effects than the system operated at the moment.