§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many individual drugs granted product licences of right are yet to be subject to rigorous checks; 336W what steps are being taken to speed the process; and how many resources, in real terms, have been devoted to this task in each of the last three years.
§ Sir George YoungWhilst the review of medicines by therapeutic categories continues systematically, this has been supplemented by an accelerated review procedure introduced last year under which products, irrespective of category, are subjected to a less detailed interim examination to bring forward for early consideration those which are considered to be potentially hazardous. Some 4,500 have been scrutinised under the accelerated review and are included in an estimated 19,500 product licences of right which remain for full or partial review.
The review costs for the 12 months from 1 September 1976 to 31 August 1977—a licensing year—and from 1 September 1977 to 31 August 1978 were estimated to be £600,000 and £520,000 respectively. Similar figures for the licensing year ending 31 August 1979 are not yet available.