§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the manner in which drugs and poisons are being packed by manufacturers, to the allegations that poisons are not properly described, and that insufficient time is allowed to the packers to do this important work properly; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made into the subject?
§ Mr. SHORTTI am informed by the Lord President of the Council, whose Department is responsible for the administration of the Poisons and Pharmacy Acts, that his Department have no knowledge of any allegations of the kind suggested. Perhaps the hon. Member will communicate to the Department any information on the subject which he may have in his possession, but it will be understood that the Department has no power to intervene unless the provisions of the Acts or of the Regulations made under them are being infringed.
§ Mr. RAMSDENasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the remarks made by the stipendiary magistrate at Marlborough Street Police Court when he sentenced a prisoner for selling cocaine to the maximum penalty the law at present allows, and to the rider of the jury who held an inquest on a young girl who had purchased cocaine from a man now in the custody of the police; and if he will consider an amendment of the law for the purpose of increasing the penalty in such cases?
§ Mr. SHORTTI have seen newspaper reports of the cases mentioned. The question of an amendment of the law is receiving my consideration.