§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has had from the medical profession that nicotine chewing gum should be available through the National Health Service; what evidence exists of its success in helping people to give up smoking; and if he will reconsider the use of the gum on the National Health Service.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergMy right hon. Friend has received letters from five individual doctors on this subject: four in favour of and one against nicotine chewing gum being available on National Health Service prescription. At the time the advisory committee on borderline substances considered this product they felt that the available evidence did not justify a recommendation that it should be regarded as a drug for the purposes of prescribing under the NHS. There have been further trials since then, but I understand that the results have not yet been made available to the committee. I am sure it will be willing to reconsider the matter when these results are available. As explained in my reply of 25 January to my hon. Friend the Member for Sudbury and Woodbridge (Mr. Stainton)—[Vol. 16, c.276–77]—the availability of this gum on the National Health Service is not a matter for ministerial decision.