§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services on how many occasions since 1979, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry has informed his Department that it has been investigating an alleged breach of its code of practice; on how many occasions there was a ruling that there had been a breach; and what action was taken by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry on each occasion.
§ Mr. NewtonAvailable information is for the period from 1984 when the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) began to communicate the findings of its code of practice committee to the Department of Health and Social Security, the British Medical Association, the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, the British Medical Journal, and the Pharmaceutical Journal. Our records are of 10 such communications during this period and of ABPI inquiries into 106 allegations, 48 of which were proven. ABPI's normal action is to require an undertaking that the breach will cease and not recur. In the case of one breach, it was decided also to suspend the company's membership of ABPI and to conduct a further review of its promotional activity.