§ Mr. Lambornasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will conduct a special investigation into clinical trials promoted by companies which supply the National Health Service within the voluntary price regulation scheme in which general practitioners receive rewards for prescribing medicines to patients which are paid for by the taxpayers.
§ Dr. OwenI understand that manufacturers offer general practitioners some items of personal medical equipment in recognition of the time and trouble spent in preparing reports on such trials, but I have no information to indicate that the rewards go any further than that. If my hon. Friend has any detailed information I shall be prepared to consider whether this requires a special investigation. All promotional practices are being considered as part of the comprehensive review of the whole question of prescribing which the Government have initiated and on which the Medicines Commission has been consulted.