HC Deb 19 April 1988 vol 131 cc377-8W
Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the reply to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South,Official Report, 29 March, column 445, what is his policy regarding the providing of information to interested Members when investigations into an alleged failure by a pharmaceutical company to report adverse reactions show that there has been a breach of the statutory procedures.

Mr. Newton

Evidence of cases of apparent failure to report adverse reactions is very rare. Whether or not the public interest would best be served by making the results of investigations into such matters public has to be considered on a case by case basis.

Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the reply to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South,Official Report, 29 March, column 445, on what date each of the investigations began into alleged failures to report adverse reactions by two pharmaceutical companies; and by when each is expected to be concluded.

Mr. Newton

I refer the right hon. Member to my reply to him on 26 February 1988, at column364. These investigations are complex and I am unable to estimate when they will be completed.

Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the reply to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South,Official Report, 29 March, column 445, how investigations are carried out by his Department into alleged failures by pharmaceutical companies to report adverse reactions; how many of his officials are normally involved; if the original data of the company is inspected; and who decides whether or not the allegations are substantiated, on the appropriate penalty and on the publicity that should be given to the findings.

Mr. Newton

I refer the right hon. Member to my replies to him on 27 November 1987, at columns354–55 and on 18 December 1987, at column 931. The number and type of officials involved depends on the needs of the case. The company may be asked to submit original data to the Department. The answer to the other questions would depend on the circumstances of the case and are not the subject of any specific departmental rules or guidance.