HC Deb 01 December 1909 vol 13 cc507-8W
Mr. WINFREY

asked the Home Secretary whether, seeing that the existing Pharmacy Acts do not cover the dispensing of medicines in public institutions, and conquently there is no legislative restriction to prevent unqualified persons from acting as dispensers, he will, in the interests of public safety, consider the advisability of introducing legislation to provide that the dispensing of poisons should be subject to the same restriction as their sale and placed under the control of registered pharmacists?

Mr. GLADSTONE

It is probable that in a large number of cases the authorities of the public institutions to which my hon. Friend refers make use of dispensers who hold certificates of competence under the Apothecaries Act, 1815. I understand from the Privy Council Office that, so far as the information available goes, no allegations have been made that the persons so em- ployed are unfit to discharge the duties with which they are entrusted, and there does not appear to be any urgent case for further legislation on the subject.