§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Prime Minister what relationship she has with the 170W Committee on Safety on Medicines, the Department of Education and Science and the Medical Research Council as regards drug safety; if joint meetings are held regularly; and if she will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterMatters relating to drug safety are primarily for the health departments and the Committee on Safety of Medicines, which advises them. It is open to that committee to suggest through the health departments that the MRC should underake particular research projects into drug safety. Health department officials serve as members of the MRC and attend meetings of the CSM, thus ensuring co-ordination between those bodies.
The Department of Education and Science provides funds for the MRC through the science budget, but is not directly involved in questions of drug safety.