§ Mr. Michael Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if any products on his proposed limited list will fall into the category of having licence of right.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeYes. About half the medicines in the proposed list have product licences of right. These are mainly vitamins, antacids and antitussives: all well-established and widely used remedies. As part of our Department's review programme, these will be subject to review under the Medicines Act in the next few years. However, the great majority of analgesics, sedatives and tranquillisers on the list have already been reviewed and now have full product licences.
The proposed list must of course be regarded only as a basis for consultation. We are currently considering the composition of the final list and expect to make an announcement shortly.
§ Mr. Michael Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what assessment he has made in considering his proposals for a draft limited list of the extent to which clinically similar generic products can vary widely in size, shape and colour.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, North (Mr. McNamara) on 5 February at column525.
§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to allow general retailers in remote areas to sell medicines not included in the limited list to be introduced in April.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeUnder the Medicines Act 1968, medicines not on a general sale list are allowed to be sold only in pharmacies, under the professional supervision of a pharmacist, and this restriction must be maintained in order to protect the consumer. Medicines which are on a general sale list will be obtainable from general retailers.