§ Major Lyonsasked the Minister of Supply (1) whether he has now decided to take additional measures to restrict the use of certain essential drugs and chemicals for specified surgical, medical and war purposes, or otherwise to stop the depletion of valuable medical stocks;
(2) whether he has made any examination, and with what result, to ascertain to what extent the ready sale of prepacked drugs by chain stores, bazaars and the like, causes any shortage in supply for essential purposes of any of the ingredients therein utilised?
§ Mr. PeatI have no evidence that there is any shortage of essential materials which can be ascribed to the use of such materials in pre-packed drugs on sale by chain stores, etc., and I would refer my384W hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. Liddall) on 16th April. Measures to conserve the use of certain essential materials which have already been taken have resulted in the discontinuance of their use in many pre-packed preparations, as well as in other directions. The supply position of those materials is constantly under review in conjunction with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health.