Benzodiazepines (Hansard, 23 March 1993)

§ 5. Mr. Win Griffiths
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will establish an independent committee of inquiry into the effects of the benzodiazepine group of drugs.

§ Mr. Yeo
I have no plans to do so. The Committee on Safety of Medicines is an independent advisory group which has reviewed the safety of benzodiazepines. To reduce the problem of dependence, it recommended restrictions on their use. The committee continues to monitor the situation.

§ Mr. Griffiths
As problems existed more than 10 years ago, is it not a pity that the committee did not report much earlier? As the Legal Aid Board is likely to deprive more than 6,000 people of cases against companies such as Roche, would it not be a good thing and a matter of Christian charity for the Minister to undertake an inquiry so that people such as my constituent Mrs. Molly Jones, who has had her life shattered by the use of such drugs, can gain some compensation without incurring huge legal fees in pursuing companies such as Roche?

§ Mr. Yeo
Questions about legal aid are for my hon. Friend the Member for Solihull (Mr. Taylor), the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, who answers for the Lord Chancellor in the House. The number of benzodiazepine prescriptions dispensed has fallen by 40 per cent. since 1979, so I think that the change in prescribing practice does go back to the period to which the hon. Gentleman refers. Detailed guidance on prescribing is given in the British National Formulary, which is a major reference source for drugs and is issued free to all doctors. I think that it is clear that we have responded to the concerns expressed by the hon. Gentleman.

§ Ms Primarolo
The Minister will acknowledge that the dangers of dependency on benzodiazepines are well known. The request for the inquiry is based on the understanding that the drug has been licensed for a long time and has caused immense agony and problems in the lives of many people, especially women.
Will the Minister consider taking a number of steps further to control the prescribing of this drug? First, will 753 he request that GPs be required to hand-write the prescription script so that it is drawn to their attention? Many people are given repeat prescriptions when they should not be. Secondly, will he ensure that the time is limited to 10 days, which is the recommended period for the safety of these medicines? Thirdly, will the Government consider banning the capsules which are so dangerous and are so misused, particularly by young people, in the abuse of drugs?

§ Mr. Yeo
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs has proposed that some benzodiazepines should be rescheduled, which would give a stricter regime and would involve the hand-writing of prescriptions. That will be considered. The question of the period over which these drugs should be used is also subject to guidance given to all doctors. It is now generally regarded as best practice to confine the period of use to a relatively short time. The guidance is not confined to the British National Formulary. In the mental illness key area handbook, which was published earlier this year following the identification of mental illness as a key area under the White Paper "The Health of the Nation", suggestions have been made that family health services authorities should discuss with general practitioners local targets for reducing benzodiazepine prescriptions.