§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce legislation to disband all drug company sponsored ethics committees and to require all proposals for testing new drugs on healthy volunteers to be approved by hospital or university ethics committees.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe will consider whether legislation or any other control is required in the light of the updated advice we are awaiting from the Royal College of Physicians, the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industries and the Medicines Commission.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has regarding ethics committees established by drug companies to approve drug tests using healthy volunteers.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI shall let the right hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.