HC Deb 18 May 1984 vol 60 cc301-2W
Mr. Bowen Wells

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how he will instruct his delegates to the World Health Assembly meeting in Geneva now to vote on resolution A37/A under item 22 on the drugs action programme, entitled the "Rational Use of Drugs"; and what are his reasons for so voting.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

At the World Health Assembly in Geneva on 17 May, both the executive board's resolution—EB73.R15 "Action Programme on Essential Drugs and Vaccines"—and an additional resolution—A37/A/Conference Paper No. 7 "The Rational Use of Drugs" — were adopted unanimously. As I told the World Health Assembly last week, the Government are committed to the principles of the World Health Organisation's action programme on essential drugs.

Mr. John Patten

The following table shows separately numbers of deaths where the underlying cause was drug dependence, non-dependent abuse of drugs, accidental poisoning and other forms of misuse. Drugs may have been mentioned in the certification of other deaths which have been classified to the condition being treated or to the condition actually causing death but these are not routinely tabulated.