§ 12. Mr. Colemanasked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has received any representations calling upon him to reconsider the decision to allow a licence for the long-term use of the contraceptive drug Depo-Povera in Wales.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsI have received representations from the Cardiff Community Health Council and from the Welsh office of the Labour party.
§ Mr. ColemanIn view of the refusal by the United States Food and Drugs Administration to grant a long-term licence, and the results of the World Health Organisation's survey on the long-term use of Depo-Provera, which seems to show a possible link between the long-term use of that drug and a higher incidence of cervical cancer, will the hon. Gentleman begin the procedure to withdraw the licence granted in April last year for the use of that drug?
§ Mr. RobertsLet me make the position clear. My understanding is that the preliminaty findings of the World Health Organisation study show no evidence that using the drug increases the risk of breast cancer. The American public board of inquiry's recommendation to the Food and Drugs Administration not to market Depo-Provera in the United States is being considered by the Food and Drugs Administration and it has not yet decided what action to take on that recommendation. My right hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Health has asked the Committee on Safety of Medicines to consider the American report. Before granting a licence for the use of Depo-Provera as a long-term contraceptive in Britain, the United Kingdom licensing authority had the benefit of a report on the safety of the product by a panel of experts.