Sainsbury Committee (Hansard, 24 July 1967)

§ 31. Mr. Fisher
asked the Minister of Health whether he has received the report of the Sainsbury Committee; and when he proposes to publish it.

§ The Minister of Health (Mr. Kenneth Robinson)
No Sir, though I understand that the Committee hopes to complete it within a week or so. I shall consider the question of publication as soon as I have the Report.

§ Mr. Fisher
Will the right hon. Gentleman undertake that when he has had an opportunity to consider the Report he will make a statement on his reactions to it to the House as opposed to some outside body like the Labour Party conference or 42 anything of that sort—[Interruption.]—I think so—and thereafter could he invite his right hon. Friend the Leader of the House to give us time to debate it?

§ Mr. Robinson
As the hon. Gentleman knows, the question of a debate will not be for me, but no doubt my right hon. Friend will have noted the hon. Gentle. man's suggestion. The Committee's recommendations will, in the nature of things, be touching on difficult and delicate subjects and the Government will need time to consider them before entering into consultations with the industry, and I think that it is highly probable that the Government's first statement will be made to the House.

§ Dr. Summerskill
Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that it is hoped that the whole future of the drug industry will be altered as a result of this Report, and that it is therefore very important that hon. Members should have the chance to question him about it?

§ Mr. Robinson
I note my hon. Friend's hopes.