§ Mr. Luceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many cough mixtures are potentially addictive;
(2) how many people are known addicts of cough mixtures, in particular of a mixture whose name has been supplied to him;
(3) if he will arrange for warnings to be provided about the addictive dangers of certain cough mixtures; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir K. JosephI regret that no figures are available in answer to the first two Questions. Reports of persons who have become dependent on cough preparations, including the one in question, have been very few in number. All three active ingredients in that preparation are currently restricted to pharmacy sale at the levels at which they are contained in it, and the Medicines Commission, in its recent review, saw no reason to recommend the imposition of stricter controls.
288Wconsultations are being held with representatives of the interests which my hon. Friend has in mind.