HC Deb 23 May 1975 vol 892 cc662-3W
Mr. Lamborn

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will make a statement about the new committee to be set up under the Medicines Act 1968.

Dr. Owen

On the advice of the Medicines Commission, the health Ministers plan to make an order shortly to set up a Committee on the Review of Medicines under Section 4 of the Medicines Act. This committee will advise the licensing authority on the safety, quality and efficacy of medicines for human use in connection with the forthcoming review of product licences for all such medicines on the market. It is hoped that it will hold its first meeting later this year. I am pleased to announce that Professor Sir Eric Scowen, MD, DSc, FRCP, FRCS, FRCPE, FRC, Path, Professor of Medicine at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, has agreed to serve as the first Chairman of this body.

Sir Eric will continue to serve as Chairman of the Committee on Safety of Medicines for the time being. Professor G. M. Wilson, PhD, DSc, FRCP, Regius Professor of the Practice of Medicine at the University of Glasgow has agreed to join the Committee on Safety of Medicines as chairman designate from a date to be arranged.