HC Deb 27 July 1950 vol 478 c118W
90. Mr. Driberg

asked the Minister of Health if he will investigate the circumstances in which a general practitioner, of whose identity he has been informed, has been notified that he should not have prescribed charcoal biscuits for a patient and that the cost of this medicament is to be deducted from his remuneration; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Bevan

The Regulations provide a proper procedure for determining whether doubtful substances are drugs in the circumstances of a particular case and for the recovery from the general practitioner of the cost of any substances prescribed which are not drugs. Charcoal biscuits are normally regarded as food and as such should not be prescribed at the cost of the National Health Service.