HC Deb 08 May 1967 vol 746 cc1028-9
15. Mr. Edelman

asked the Minister of Health when he now expects the committee of inquiry on the pharmaceutical industry, known as the Sainsbury Committee, which was established on 8th March, 1965, to report.

Mr. K. Robinson

I understand that the Committee hopes to complete its report by about the end of July.

Mr. Edelman

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the presentation of this report is now long overdue? Will he say—perhaps as a justification of the long delay in presenting the report—whether the committee has, in the meantime, had an opportunity of examining the books of the drug companies which have been making such high profits out of the National Health Service?

Mr. Robinson

I do not accept that the report is overdue. The committee is considering a very complicated matter and it is very important, in order to get the right answer, that it should have full time to consider it. It is dealing with the matter as expeditiously as is reasonable, and, as far as I know, it has had full co-operation from the industry in respect of the information which it needs for the consideration of its report.

Mr. Fisher

As this report is likely to be a very important one, affecting patients, doctors, the whole of the pharmaceutical industry and the National Health Service, can the Minister say when he proposes to publish it, and whether he will arrange for a debate on it thereafter?

Mr. Robinson

The question of a debate is not for me. I understand that it is likely to be a bulky report and the printing alone may take as much as six weeks.